In a rare and positive development for Nigeria’s power sector, the national electricity grid recorded no system collapse or disturbance throughout the first quarter of 2025, according to a report released by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
This marks a significant improvement in grid stability, especially when compared to 2024, which witnessed 12 grid collapses. NERC attributed the progress to better system management and enhanced coordination efforts by the System Operator.
“There was no incidence of system disturbance on the national grid in 2025/Q1,” the report stated.
The comprehensive report assessed key performance areas, including grid reliability, market remittance, customer service, metering, and operational safety.
However, NERC also raised concerns over technical indicators, noting that while system frequency and voltage levels remained within stress tolerance bands, they still deviated from optimal thresholds.
“In 2025/Q1, the average lower daily (49.28Hz) and upper daily (50.77Hz) system frequencies were outside the normal operating limits (49.75Hz – 50.25Hz) but within stress limits (48.75Hz – 51.25Hz),” NERC noted.
Similarly, daily system voltage readings were outside the ranges prescribed in the Grid Code, signaling the need for further operational fine-tuning despite the overall gains.
The Q1 2025 milestone represents a critical turnaround in Nigeria’s power infrastructure, long plagued by instability and widespread blackouts. Experts suggest that sustained reforms, system investments, and stricter grid management may be gradually yielding results.
