For the second time in 2025, Nigeria has been plunged into darkness as the national grid suffered another major system collapse on March 7 at approximately 2:00 PM. The latest outage has thrown businesses, homes, and essential services into turmoil, reigniting concerns over the country’s failing power infrastructure.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has yet to release an official statement on the cause of the collapse, but experts and industry analysts point to Nigeria’s longstanding issues of aging infrastructure, chronic underinvestment, and rampant vandalism as major culprits. This latest blackout follows a disturbing trend, with similar incidents occurring frequently in recent years.
Nigeria’s power grid has been on a downward spiral, with multiple nationwide outages recorded annually. In 2022, the grid collapsed twice in one week, and in 2023, the entire country was plunged into darkness due to a total system failure. Despite promises of reforms and massive financial allocations, the power sector remains a ticking time bomb.
The economic impact of Nigeria’s power crisis is staggering. According to the World Bank, the country loses an estimated $29 billion annually due to electricity instability. The situation has driven businesses to rely on expensive alternative energy sources, further straining an economy already grappling with inflation and a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
As frustration mounts, many Nigerians are questioning the government’s ability to resolve the crisis. Calls for a complete overhaul of the power sector have intensified, with energy experts urging the implementation of sustainable and decentralized energy solutions, including a stronger push for renewable energy.
Meanwhile, citizens are left in the dark—both literally and figuratively—awaiting answers and solutions to a problem that continues to cripple Africa’s largest economy.