Similar to a building erected on a weak foundation, Nigeria’s national grid continues to give way. Three times in the last three months, it has collapsed, plunging Nigerians into a total blackout and raising serious concerns about the country’s commitment to achieving energy efficiency.
On February 4th, March 28th, and most recently, April 15th, 2024, Nigerians woke up to a nation shrouded in darkness. These repeated blackouts disrupt daily life, impacting both social activities and economic productivity.
Electricity distribution companies, otherwise known as DisCos, blamed the latest episode on loss of power supply, in what many find to be an interesting paradox.
Friday Adakole Elijah, head of corporate affairs at Jos Electricity Distribution company, said: “The loss of power supply from the national grid occurred in the early hours of about 0242 hours of Monday, 15th April 2024, hence the loss of power supply on all our feeders”, he said. His press release was soon followed by similar public notice by those of Abuja, Enugu, and Ikeja, among others.
In a separate statement, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported a fire outbreak at a power generation plant.
“At 02:41 Hrs today, referring to 15th April 2024,” the statement began, “a fire erupted at the Afam V 33KV bus bar coupler, leading to the tripping of units at Afam 111 and Afam VI. The result is a sudden generation loss of 25 MW and 305 MW, respectively, destabilizing the grid and causing a partial collapse”. Power grid collapse implies that it made it impossible for some electricity distribution companies (Discos) to supply power to their companies.
Bayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, had promised to fix national grid challenges in his inaugural address as the minister of the federal republic. “A significant goal is the universal metering of households and addressing the challenges our national power grid faces,” he vowed. The Minister equally noted that “his aim is to empower Nigeria through reliable and accessible power, ensuring that every home, industry, school, and business benefits from (regular power supply).”
In 2022 alone, the national grid collapsed eight times. And in 2023, the number of times the grid fell by the wayside is yet to be tallied. The unpredictability that surrounds the collapse of the national grid has given way to speculations that often undermine government efforts.
For the government, power grid collapses are partly caused by fire incidents or the activities of vandals. However, experts believe more must be done to cut the excesses of vandals and reduce the rate of fire incidents. The current state of Nigeria’s national grid is simply unacceptable.
While addressing immediate causes like fire incidents and vandalism is crucial, a more sustainable solution is needed to break this cycle of blackouts. Upgrading the grid’s infrastructure, diversifying energy sources with renewables, and prioritizing maintenance are crucial. Only then can Nigeria light the path towards a brighter energy future.
