Businesses in Lagos and parts of Ogun State are bracing for major losses as a 25-day power outage is set to begin on July 28 and last until August 21, 2025.

Two of Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution companies, Ikeja Electric and Eko DisCo, announced that the planned daily blackout — running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — is due to maintenance work on the Omotosho–Ikeja West 330kV transmission line by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The affected areas include key parts of Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, and the Agbara industrial zone in Ogun State. These regions host thousands of businesses, banks, factories, and service providers — all heavily reliant on stable power supply.

According to the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in Lagos State, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, residents and businesses in Lagos spend over N13 trillion monthly on electricity, and this extended blackout could lead to hundreds of billions of naira in losses.

Dr. Muda Yusuf, CEO of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), described the situation as a significant blow to productivity and economic performance. “Businesses will now have to rely on more expensive alternatives like diesel or gas to stay operational,” he said.

He added that essential services like hospitals, hotels, supermarkets, and manufacturers that run round-the-clock will be the hardest hit. “This outage will put intense pressure on energy costs and reduce operating hours for many,” he noted.

While the disruption is painful, Dr. Yusuf acknowledged that the maintenance is necessary to improve the National Grid. “We’ve had too many grid failures due to poor investment and ageing infrastructure. This kind of maintenance, though costly in the short term, is vital for long-term stability.”

Still, with Lagos being the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy, many are calling for more strategic planning and communication to minimize the impact of such large-scale maintenance projects in the future.