Egbin Power Station shutdown and transmission fault trigger severe electricity disruption across Lagos, raising blackout concerns
Electricity supply across Lagos State has come under intense pressure following a sudden shutdown at Egbin Power Station and a simultaneous fault on a major transmission line on Thursday, April 30, 2026, according to the Nigerian Independent System Operator.
The operator warned that the combined disruptions could lead to an extended blackout across Lagos, Nigeria’s largest electricity consumption hub.
In a statement, the agency said the incident began on April 28 when Egbin Power Station suffered a major operational failure that forced a complete shutdown of its generating units.
Output reportedly dropped sharply from about 641 megawatts to zero within minutes, following technical faults involving the plant’s compressor system and circulating water pump network.
The shutdown has raised concern due to Egbin’s role as Nigeria’s largest power generation facility connected to the national grid.
The situation was further worsened by a fault on the Osogbo to Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, a key corridor for supplying electricity into Lagos.
System operators said the transmission failure has significantly restricted the evacuation of available power into the Lagos electricity network.
The dual disruption has forced authorities to introduce load shedding measures aimed at stabilising the national grid and preventing a broader system collapse.
Emergency interventions are already underway, including the redistribution of available power across distribution companies and prioritisation of critical infrastructure.
Grid operators are also working to optimise output from other generating plants in a bid to reduce the impact on consumers across affected areas.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator apologised for the disruption, acknowledging the inconvenience faced by residents in Lagos and surrounding regions.
It assured the public that technical teams and stakeholders are working urgently to restore normal supply and stabilise the system.
Egbin Power Station, located in Ikorodu, remains a critical asset in Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure with an installed capacity exceeding 1,300 megawatts.
