Electricity supply to Nigerians from the national grid has declined sharply to 3,810 megawatts (MW) as of January 11, 2026, according to data released by the national grid operator.
This represents a significant reduction of 520 MW from the 4,330 MW allocated to the country's 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) as recently as January 5, 2025, a drop occurring in less than a week.
The decline highlights the persistent fragility of Nigeria's power infrastructure, coming just weeks after the national grid suffered a major collapse on December 29, 2025, which plunged much of the country into darkness and disrupted economic activities nationwide.
The latest figures underscore the ongoing struggle to stabilize the system following that incident, with generation and transmission constraints continuing to limit available power.
Thermal plants, which form the bulk of Nigeria's generation capacity, remain hampered by issues such as gas supply shortages, while the grid faces repeated disturbances that prevent consistent output.
Adding to the sector's woes, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported in its latest quarterly review that 20 firms applied for approval in the third quarter of 2025 to exit the national grid entirely and pursue captive power generation permits.
This trend reflects growing frustration among large consumers and industries seeking more reliable alternatives amid unreliable grid supply.
Despite government assurances of improvements including Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu's pledge for more reliable and sustainable electricity in 2026 the recent drop has renewed public concerns over frequent outages, economic losses, and the slow pace of reforms in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Stakeholders continue to call for urgent investments in transmission infrastructure, better gas supply reliability, and measures to curb exits from the grid to prevent further deterioration.
As Nigerians grapple with reduced power availability at the start of the new year, the situation serves as a stark reminder of the deep-rooted challenges in achieving stable electricity for Africa's most populous nation.
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