Egbin Power Plant, widely known as Nigeria’s largest thermal power station, has been forced offline after a heartbreaking incident that has shaken both workers and industry observers. The plant, located in Lagos State, has an installed capacity of 1,320 MW from six units of 220 MW each and contributes over 16% of electricity to the national grid, making its shutdown a serious concern for power supply.
According to multiple sources who spoke to SaharaReporters, the tragedy happened late Tuesday night, April 28, 2026, around 8 p.m. A diver, contracted to carry out underwater maintenance inside the plant’s lagoon-based pump system, reportedly lost his life during the operation. What started as a routine recovery task quickly turned into a fatal accident.
The diver had been sent into the lagoon section of the pump house to either retrieve or stabilise a machine that had fallen into the water. While he was still inside the restricted area, the pump system unexpectedly came back on. Before anyone could react, he was caught in the impeller — a moment that proved instantly fatal.
One source familiar with the situation described it plainly: the diver went in for a recovery operation, but the sudden activation of the pump left him trapped with no chance of escape. It’s the kind of incident that raises serious questions about safety checks and communication during high-risk operations like this.
Following the accident, activities in that section of the plant were immediately halted. Soon after, the situation escalated into a full shutdown as safety protocols were triggered. Engineers and safety officials are now working to understand exactly how such a critical system could come on while someone was still inside.
The plant, operated by Egbin Power Plc under a joint structure involving Sahara Power Group and KEPCO, has since been disconnected from the national grid. This development adds pressure to an already fragile power supply situation in the country.
The contractor involved has been identified as Browndive Underwater Services, a firm known for handling underwater industrial operations such as pump maintenance and lagoon servicing. The company has worked with several major clients across Nigeria’s energy and maritime sectors.
As of now, neither Egbin Power Plc nor Browndive Underwater Services has released an official public statement regarding the incident. That silence is only adding to the tension, especially as many await clarity on what really went wrong.
For now, restoration of operations remains uncertain. Insiders suggest that the plant will only return to full capacity after thorough safety reviews and investigations are completed. Beyond the immediate power implications, the incident has once again brought attention to the risks faced by contractors working in high-stakes infrastructure environments — and the urgent need to ensure that safety protocols are not just in place, but strictly followed.