Nigerian Independent System Operator has warned that Lagos may experience prolonged power outages following the sudden shutdown of the Egbin Power Station and a simultaneous transmission line failure.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the system operator said the Egbin Power Station suffered a major operational disruption that resulted in a complete loss of electricity generation, further straining supply in the country’s commercial centre.
The incident has also sparked speculation over a reported accident said to have claimed the life of a contractor, although the company has not officially confirmed the circumstances surrounding the development.
According to the statement, the disruption occurred around 8:21 p.m. on April 28, when the plant’s generation capacity dropped from about 641 megawatts to zero.
The operator linked the outage to the failure of critical equipment within the facility.
The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform the general public of a significant reduction in power generation currently affecting electricity supply across the country, particularly within the Lagos region.
“Egbin Power Station, which is the largest electricity-generating plant on the national grid and a major contributor to daily power supply in Nigeria, experienced a major operational disturbance.
“At approximately 8:21 p.m. on April 28, 2026, Egbin Power Station recorded a total loss of generation, dropping from about 641MW to zero output.
“This incident was caused by the failure of the plant’s central compressor, in addition to a malfunction of the circulating water pump system, which necessitated an immediate shutdown of all generating units to safeguard the facility.”
The operator explained that electricity supply challenges were aggravated by a transmission constraint affecting power delivery into Lagos.
“Power supply to the Lagos region is currently further restricted due to the forced outage of the Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, thereby limiting the evacuation of available generation into the Lagos load centre,” it added.
According to the agency, the combined disruptions created a major supply deficit, forcing operators to implement load shedding measures to avoid a total grid collapse.
“Consequently, this loss of generation has created a significant supply shortfall, necessitating immediate load-shedding measures to maintain grid stability and prevent a wider system disturbance,” the statement added.
The agency disclosed that emergency measures had already been introduced to reduce the impact on electricity consumers.
“System operators have since deployed contingency measures, including the reallocation of available load across distribution companies, with priority given to critical national infrastructure.
“In addition, efforts are ongoing to optimise generation from other available power plants to mitigate the impact of this development on electricity consumers,” it stated.
The operator apologised to consumers, especially residents of Lagos and nearby communities where outages have become more severe.
“We acknowledge the inconvenience this situation has caused electricity consumers, especially within Lagos and surrounding areas, and we assure the public that all relevant stakeholders are working closely to resolve the situation as quickly as possible,” it added.
Egbin Power Station is Nigeria’s largest thermal power plant on the national grid, with an installed generation capacity of over 1,300MW, although actual output varies due to gas supply issues, maintenance and grid limitations.
Because of its strategic importance, any major disruption at the plant usually has an immediate effect on electricity supply, particularly in Lagos, which consumes a large portion of the country’s power.
The Osogbo–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line also plays a critical role in transmitting electricity into Lagos by connecting power generation sources from other parts of the country to the state’s distribution network.
The latest incident once again exposes the vulnerability of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, where breakdowns in key generation or transmission assets can trigger widespread supply shortages.
Although measures such as load shedding help stabilise the grid temporarily, experts say lasting solutions will require stronger transmission networks, diversified power generation and improved maintenance of critical infrastructure.