On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at 11:34 AM, the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) experienced a significant system outage. The company took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation, stating, “Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 12 February 2025, at 11.34hrs affecting all our feeders.” IKEDC emphasized that restoration efforts are underway in coordination with stakeholders to bring back the power supply.
Amid widespread unverified reports suggesting a national grid collapse, IKEDC dismissed these rumours, affirming that the country’s power grid remains stable and operational. The company’s response was aimed at quelling the misinformation that had circulated, which suggested another in a series of grid failures.
Public Response on Social Media
Social media platforms like X saw numerous accounts sharing their experiences and assumptions about the power situation. X users @ulxma tweeted, “It’s like the National grid has fainted again,” echoing the sentiments of many who thought they were witnessing another grid collapse. @ajoke_belle shared, “I was in a meeting, we all had our videos on, and our electricity went off at the same time. All of us. National grid, here we go again.” Similarly, Noore tweeted, “National Grid has collapsed again. Those who have solar energy don’t know what God has done for them.”
Historical Context of Grid Stability
The national grid of Nigeria has had a history of collapses, with issues like aging infrastructure, gas shortages, and vandalism contributing to instability. This history has fostered public skepticism, facilitating the rapid spread of false reports. In 2024 alone, the grid faced twelve collapses, with three being partial due to generation problems.
Government and Authority Responses
The Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has advised citizens to seek verified information from credible sources before spreading news about power disruptions. They have committed to enhancing communication strategies to provide timely and accurate updates on the grid’s status.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, highlighted ongoing vulnerabilities in January 2025, noting that the national electricity grid is prone to collapses partly because of unrepaired transmission lines in the Northern region due to insecurity. He mentioned, “We recognize the issues with full or partial grid collapses, but our focus is on reducing the time it takes to restore power. We are actively collaborating with security agencies to achieve this.”
Despite these challenges, the government and power sector stakeholders are working towards not only resolving immediate outages but also ensuring long-term grid stability. The commitment is to minimize the frequency and impact of grid collapses, thereby improving the quality of electricity supply across Nigeria.
