Egbin Collapse Triggers Power Shortfall, Lagos Hit by Load Shedding

"The impact of the shutdown has been compounded by transmission constraints, as “power supply to the Lagos region is currently restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV line,” further limiting the flow of electricity into the Lagos load centre." NISO Management 

Nigeria’s electricity supply has suffered a major setback following a sudden drop in generation from the nation’s largest power plant, forcing operators to implement load shedding across affected regions, particularly Lagos.

In a statement issued on April 30, 2026, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) disclosed that the disruption was triggered by a significant operational failure at the Egbin Power Station, a critical contributor to the national grid.

According to the operator, “at about 8:21pm on April 28, 2026, the power station recorded a complete loss of generation, dropping from approximately 641MW to zero output.” The incident, it noted, was caused by “a failure of the plant’s central compressor, alongside a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, which necessitated an emergency shutdown of all units.”

The impact of the shutdown has been compounded by transmission constraints, as “power supply to the Lagos region is currently restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV line,” further limiting the flow of electricity into the Lagos load centre.

NISO explained that the combined setbacks have created “a significant supply shortfall,” making it necessary to introduce immediate load shedding measures to stabilise the grid and avert a broader system collapse.

To manage the situation, system operators have activated contingency protocols, including adjustments to load distribution across electricity distribution companies, with priority given to critical infrastructure. Efforts are also underway to maximise output from other generating stations to cushion the impact on consumers.

The operator expressed regret over the disruption, stating, “we acknowledge the inconvenience this situation has caused electricity consumers, especially within Lagos and surrounding areas,” while assuring that “all relevant stakeholders are working closely to resolve the situation as soon as possible.”