Some parts of Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos State, along with parts of neighbouring Ogun State, has begun a 25-day power blackout that is expected to significantly disrupt business operations and trigger economic losses estimated in the hundreds of billions of Naira.
The daily 9-hour outage, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., will last from July 28 to August 21, 2025, according to separate statements released by Ikeja Electric and Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo) last week.
The blackout, affecting both residential and commercial zones, is due to critical maintenance work on the Omotosho–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line, overseen by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The outage hits Lagos hardest—a state that accounts for over 60 per cent of Nigeria’s commercial and industrial activities. From financial centres in Victoria Island and Ikeja, to the ports of Apapa, manufacturing zones in Agbara, and residential hubs across the metropolis, the power cut has triggered a scramble for alternative energy sources.
According to Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, electricity consumption in Lagos exceeds N13 trillion monthly, a figure that underscores the state’s energy dependence and vulnerability.
“The cost burden this blackout will place on businesses is enormous,” he said. “We are seeing widespread reliance on diesel generators and gas-based backup systems, which are far more expensive and environmentally damaging.”
Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), warned that the economic impact would be severe, particularly for sectors that cannot afford downtime.
In the Agbara industrial cluster, a spokesperson for a major multinational food processing company said the firm would spend over N120 million on diesel just to sustain basic operations through the blackout.