Nigeria’s national power grid has collapsed yet again, throwing businesses, homes, and essential services into darkness. The latest outage, which occurred at 11:34 AM on February 12, was described as a “grid disturbance” by officials, but for millions of Nigerians, it was just another frustrating blackout.
Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company quickly informed customers of the disruption, promising restoration efforts in collaboration with key stakeholders. Yet, this is the second grid failure in 2025, following a troubling 12 collapses in 2024. Despite attempts at rebranding these failures as “line tripping” or “system disturbances,” the reality remains the same: Nigeria’s centralized electricity grid is failing, and the time for action is now.
The Case for Decentralization
Rather than patching up an outdated and overstressed grid, Nigeria needs to embrace a smarter, decentralized power system. Breaking the national grid into smaller, regional grids—perhaps along geopolitical zones—would significantly improve reliability and efficiency. Additionally, mini-grids tailored for universities, industrial clusters, and research institutions could free up much-needed electricity for residential and small business users.
Imagine Lagos alone: if major institutions like UNILAG, YabaTech, LASU, and industrial hubs in Ikeja and Amuwo-Odofin operated on independent mini-grids, it would relieve pressure on the national grid and provide more stable electricity to artisans and small businesses. The same could apply to cities like Kaduna and Ibadan, where universities and research centers could run on dedicated power sources, leaving more energy available for local residents.
Aging Infrastructure Can’t Keep Up
Another pressing reason for breaking up the grid is its outdated infrastructure. Many of the cables and transmission lines in use today date back to the late 1970s. Expecting these aging components to support a modern economy is unrealistic. Instead of endlessly repairing a failing system, Nigeria should invest in smaller, manageable grids that attract private sector investment and encourage renewable energy integration.
A Vision for the Future
If Nigeria truly aims to achieve a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, reliable electricity must be a priority. The government needs to rethink its approach, breaking up the centralized grid and embracing alternative energy solutions like solar. Without bold reforms, we’ll still be talking about collapsing grids in 2050.
It’s time to stop patching up a broken system and start building a power infrastructure that actually works for Nigerians.
