If your area has had less light than usual this week, you are not alone. Since early November, people in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo have reported fewer hours of supply and more load shedding, right in the middle of the hot season. And to make it worse, a viral video doing the rounds sums up what many people feel: "Buy solar, buy solar… solar sef dey off."
So what is actually going on with the grid, and why do some solar systems also go off when you need them most? Here is a plain explanation, and what you can do to keep your own power on.
The short version
The grid has not collapsed. Less power is being generated because thermal plants are short of gas and hydro plants have less water, so DisCos are getting less power to share and are load shedding. No end date has been given.
What is causing the poor supply?
On November 6, 2026 the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) explained that the drop in generation is mainly due to two things:
- Gas shortages. Limited gas supply means some thermal power stations cannot run at the level they normally could.
- Less water at hydro dams. Lower water inflows into reservoirs have reduced how much the hydro stations can generate.
With less power on the grid, each Distribution Company (DisCo) is allocated less, which means fewer hours of supply and more load shedding. NISO says the impact varies from place to place depending on each DisCo's allocation. Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has already apologised to customers for the lingering blackout.
The Federal Ministry of Power says this is not a major or systemic grid failure. It blames maintenance and operational issues, together with the gas and hydro shortfall, and says the Minister of Power is working with TCN, NISO and the DisCos to restore normal supply quickly. That is different from January 2026, when the national grid fully collapsed and generation fell to almost zero.
How long will it last?
Nobody has given a date. The Ministry says updates will follow as restoration progresses. What we do know is that the heat is not going anywhere: NiMet and the WMO expect a hotter-than-normal season into February 2027 (see our El Niño guide). Hot nights with no fan are exactly when a reliable backup matters most, so it is worth getting ready now rather than waiting.
"Solar sef dey off": why some solar systems go off
Solar works, but only when the system is sized for how you actually use power. When it goes off during a long outage, it is almost always one of these:
- The battery is too small for the night. Panels only charge during the day. Everything you run after sunset comes from the battery, so if your night-time load is bigger than your battery, it runs flat before morning.
- It was leaning on NEPA to charge. Many systems quietly depend on grid power to top the battery up. When NEPA is off for days, the battery never gets back to full.
- Too few panels. If your panels can only just cover daytime use, there is nothing left over to refill the battery for the night.
- Heavy loads. ACs, pressing irons, kettles and pumps drain a battery fast or trip the inverter's overload protection.
- The battery protects itself. When it gets very low, a lithium battery switches off to avoid damage. That is good for its life, but it means no power until it recharges.
- Heat and dust. Inverters and batteries in hot, closed rooms can shut down to cool off, and dusty panels (harmattan is coming) produce less.
How to keep your power on through long outages
- Know your load. List what must stay on (fans, fridge, lights, router, phones) and use our power calculator to see how much battery you need for the night.
- Size the battery for the night, the panels for the day. The battery carries you through the evening; the panels need to cover daytime use and refill the battery.
- Charge whenever NEPA comes. Even a few hours of grid power helps you start the next outage full.
- Keep heavy loads for daytime. Run the pressing iron, washing machine or pump when the sun is strong, not at night on battery.
- Give it air and keep panels clean. A shaded, ventilated spot for the unit, and a quick wipe of the panels during dusty months.
Which backup fits your home?
A rough guide using our ready-made solar kits (real runtime depends on your appliances):
| Need | Good fit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fans, TV and lights for the evening | TURSAN YC 1200 (1,310Wh) | ₦769,999 |
| Lights, fans, TV, laptops and a small fridge, with solar | Home Starter Solar Kit: YC 2400 Classic + 2 × Taekmo 650W | ₦1,406,500 |
| Fridge, freezer, TV and fans, with solar | Whole-Home Solar Kit: YC 3600 (3,225.6Wh) + 2 × Taekmo 650W | ₦1,761,500 |
| The whole house through the night | 15kWh Whole-Home Solar Kit: JC-AC-6KW + TSA-LFP48-320 + 8 × Haitai 595W | ₦3,505,000 |
Not sure which one? Send your appliance list to us on WhatsApp and we will size it for you for free. You can also pay small small in instalments.
TURSAN YC 1200
Fans, TV and lights for a family evening during an outage.
TURSAN YC 2400 Classic
Home backup that takes 2 solar panels.
TURSAN YC 3600
Fridge, freezer, TV and fans through long outages.
Solar doesn't fail because the sun stops. It goes off when the battery is too small or the panels can't refill it. Size it right and it keeps you going when the grid can't.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the national grid collapsed?
No. The Federal Ministry of Power said on November 6, 2026 that the drop in supply was not caused by a major or systemic grid failure. NISO says less power is being generated because of gas supply constraints at thermal plants and lower water levels at hydro stations, so DisCos are getting less power and are load shedding.
Which areas are affected?
The Ministry named Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Kwara and Oyo States, and Daily Trust also reported complaints from Kano and Maiduguri. How bad it is depends on how much power each DisCo is allocated.
When will power supply improve?
No date has been given. The Minister of Power says he is working with TCN, NISO and the DisCos to restore normal supply quickly and that updates will follow. With the hot season running until February, it is wise to plan for more outages anyway.
Why does my solar system go off at night?
Usually because the battery is too small for what you run at night, or it never fully charged during the day. Too few panels, heavy loads like ACs and pressing irons, dusty panels or relying on NEPA to top up the battery can all leave it empty before morning.
How many solar panels do I need for a power station?
It depends on the unit and what you run. For the TURSAN YC 3600 and YC 2400 Classic our approved package is 2 panels in series (2 x Taekmo 650W or 2 x Haitai 595W). Send us your appliance list on WhatsApp and we will size it for you.
Stay on when the grid can't keep up
The Whole-Home Solar Kit pairs the TURSAN YC 3600 (3,225.6Wh BYD LiFePO4) with 2 Taekmo 650W panels for fridge, freezer, TV and fans. 2-year warranty, free delivery in Lagos, and you can pay in instalments.
Sources: Daily Trust: FG explains low supply as blackout, heatwaves linger (Nov 6, 2026) · Leadership: Power outages not from grid failure, says FG (Nov 6, 2026) · BusinessDay: Grid collapses for first time in 2026 (January). Information is accurate as of November 6, 2026 and may change as restoration progresses.
