AFTER a grid collapse that plunged the country into an outage, the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) yesterday restored electricity generation to 608MW at 18:00 hours.
In its restoration efforts, the supply to the 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) rose slowly to 608MW at 18:00 hours from the 60MW recorded at 13:45 hours.
Sir: Nigeria’s national grid has, again, collapsed, leaving millions of citizens without power (electricity). This recurring nightmare has become a familiar issue to the people that touches country’s economy, security, and overall well-being.
The latest collapse, which occurred on Wednesday 11th December 11, is the 12th this year (2024) alone. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) attributed the collapse to a “technical fault” at one of the transmission stations and consequently due to vandalism. However, this explanation seems to be unconvincing to many citizens, as it has become a familiar excuse in the face of repeated grid failures.
The root causes of Nigeria’s national grid collapse are complex and multifaceted. Decades of neglect, underinvestment, and mismanagement have contributed to the downgrade of the country’s power infrastructure. The grid is outdated, inadequate, and unable to meet the demands of a growing population, now estimated at 230 million, and struggling industries.
Furthermore, the lack of a coherent and sustainable energy policy has hindered efforts to address the country’s energy challenges. The government’s reliance on fossil fuels, despite the abundance of renewable energy sources, has exacerbated the problem.
The consequences of the national grid collapse are far-reaching and devastating. Businesses are forced to shut down, resulting in lost productivity and revenue. Hospitals are unable to provide critical care, putting lives at risk. Homes are being put into darkness, leaving families vulnerable to crime and insecurity.
The economic implications are also alarming. The World Bank estimates that Nigeria loses approximately $29 billion annually due to power outages. This is a staggering amount, equivalent to about 10% of the country’s GDP.
To address these recurring challenges, the government must take bold and decisive action. This includes investing in grid modernisation, upgrading the national grid to make it more efficient, reliable, and resilient.
It also includes promoting renewable energy by harnessing Nigeria’s abundant solar, wind, and hydro resources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels; encouraging private sector participation through attracting investment and expertise from the private sector to help revamp the power sector; and improving energy governance by strengthening institutions, enhancing transparency, and ensuring accountability in the energy sector.
Nigeria’s national grid collapse is a sign of a broader crisis in the energy sector. It requires a comprehensive and sustained response from the government, private sector, and civil society. Only then Nigeria can break the cycle of grid collapses and provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.
Kainji Hydro Power plant and Jebba Hydro Power plant jointly operated by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) have lost N3.46billion to grid collapse this year.
This was contained in a presentation entitled: “Impact of System Collapse on GenCos,” which its Operation Supervisor, Engr. Jacob John Barasuno delivered at Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) training in Abuja yesterday.
The training was organized by the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC).He said this year, system instability or high frequency has also cost the company N4.44billion losses from the power plants.
He stressed that while ramp down has gulped N12.80billion, unplanned outages have also cost them N1.17billion this year.
Summing up the negative impacts on the energy firm, he said MESL has lost a total of N21.87billion to the menace from grid related issues this year.
According to him, these have led to different commercial implications as inability to meet “their targets due to damaged equipment.”
He said it might result in inability to meet bilateral customers demand.
According to him, the company budgetary and loan requirement obligation will not be met while “contractual energy agreement might not be met, resulting to penalties.”
In her opening remarks, the APGC, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joy Ogaji said owing to the frequency of the grid collapses in the country, it has become necessary to make some clarification on the impacts on the power generating companies (GenCos) businesses.
She insisted that just as it is necessary to increase energy supply projection, it is also germane to preserve the lives and equipment in order to sustain economic growth.
Ogaji said: “Given the frequency of grid collapses in the country and the impact of it on our business we have thought it wise to provide clarification on how it affects our businesses
“While we certainly need a huge jump in our electricity supply projection, it is imperative to preserve lives and equipment to sustain our rapid economic growth and meet the growing demand, we therefore need to make every effort to efficiently manage all stages of value chain with intentional focus on maximizing efficiency in the entire electricity chain,” she said.
Grid collapse, according to her, poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s power sector, resulting in frequent disruptions, equipment damage, and substantial revenue losses for GenCos.
“Technically, grid collapse can cause catastrophic damage to generators, transformers, and other critical infrastructure, leading to prolonged downtime and costly repairs.
“Commercially, the impact is equally severe, as GenCos face reduced power sales, penalties for non-delivery (in bilateral and cross border trades), and increased operational expenses. The dwindling resources exacerbate these challenges, making it difficult for GenCos to maintain, repair, and replace damaged equipment, ultimately compromising the reliability and efficiency of the power supply.
“Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from government, regulatory bodies, and the power sector to improve infrastructure, enforce maintenance protocols, and ensure financial viability for GenCos,” she said.
Kainji Hydro Power plant and Jebba Hydro Power plant jointly operated by Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited (MESL) have lost N3.46 billion to grid collapse in 2024.
This was contained in a presentation titled: “Impact of System Collapse on GenCos,” which its Operation Supervisor, Engr. Jacob John Barasuno delivered at Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) training in Abuja on Thursday.
The training was organized by the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGC).
He said that this year, system instability or high frequency has also cost the company N4.44 billion in losses from the power plants.
He stressed that while ramp-down has gulped N12.80billion, unplanned outages have also cost them N1.17billion this year.
Summing up the negative impacts on the energy firm, he said MESL has lost a total of N21.87 billion to the menace from grid-related issues in 2024.
According to him, these have led to different commercial implications as the inability to meet “their targets due to damaged equipment.”
He said it might result in an inability to meet bilateral customers’ demands.
According to him, “the company budgetary and loan requirement obligation will not be met.”
He added that “Contractual energy agreement might not be met, resulting to penalties.”
In her opening remarks, the APGC, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joy Ogaji said owing to the frequency of the grid collapses in the country, it has become necessary to make some clarification on the impacts on the GenCos businesses.
She insisted that just as it is necessary to increase energy supply projection, it is also germane to preserve the lives and equipment in order to sustain economic growth.
Ogaji said, “Given the frequency of grid collapses in the country and the impact of it on our business we have thought it wise to provide clarification on how it affects our businesses
“While we certainly need a huge jump in our electricity supply projection, it is imperative to preserve lives and equipment to sustain our rapid economic growth and meet the growing demand, we therefore need to make every effort to efficiently manage all stages of the value chain with intentional focus on maximizing efficiency in the entire electricity chain,” she said.
Grid collapse, according to her, poses a significant threat to Nigeria’s power sector, resulting in frequent disruptions, equipment damage, and substantial revenue losses for GenCos.
She added: “Technically, grid collapse can cause catastrophic damage to generators, transformers, and other critical infrastructure, leading to prolonged downtime and costly repairs.
“Commercially, the impact is equally severe, as GenCos face reduced power sales, penalties for non-delivery (in bilateral and cross border trades), and increased operational expenses. The dwindling resources exacerbate these challenges, making it difficult for GenCos to maintain, repair, and replace damaged equipment, ultimately compromising the reliability and efficiency of the power supply.
“Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts from government, regulatory bodies, and the power sector to improve infrastructure, enforce maintenance protocols, and ensure financial viability for GenCos.”
It should come as a shock to many. But if it is not a shock, it is because, as a nation, we are used to so many such revelations that we are inured to bad news.
Yet, the revelations of the executive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Ola Olukoyede about the collapse of power supply and corruption should concern everyone who wants progress in this country and who wants us to enjoy regular power in homes and businesses.
He said, in a session with the National Assembly, that corruption was at the heart of the many shutdowns of the national grid. He said contractors were applying substandard equipment and this has not been able to withstand the pressure of electricity surges and led to collapse. The nation has been in the dark doldrums consistently in the past few months.
It may be true as the Minister of Power has asserted that a national grid, rather than regional and state-level installments, was not sufficient anymore for the country. The minister, Adebayo Adelabu, also had to grapple with the plunder of bandits when stretches of northern Nigeria slid into darkness and compelled the president to intervene for the restoration of electricity.
But the points made by the EFCC chief are a more profound worry. It is putting the blame on contractors. He said: “Investigations carried out by the EFCC showed that contractors in the power sector, who were awarded projects to supply electrical equipment, often opted for substandard materials.
“As I am talking to you now, we are grappling with electricity. If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears,” he asserted.
This assertion is serious, and it shows that a lack of patriotism will always combine with greed to make life difficult for all. But it raises a few questions. How did the contractors arrive at the equipment they have been applying? Have there not been due diligence? The government department in charge is the u So, what role has the BPE played in this drop in contractual credibility?
It is nothing new that contractors collude with government officials to ruin public works, but the EFCC chief’s revelation is even more stark.
He said the level of efficiency and execution is less than 20 percent.
“People who were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment, instead of using what they call 9.0 gauge, will go and buy 5.0. Every time you see the thing tripping off, the thing gets burnt, and all of that, it falters and it collapses. It’s part of our problems,” he said.
He expatiated that, “We discovered that in the last 15 to 20 years, we have not done up to 20 per cent of our capital project implementation and execution. And if we don’t do that, how do you want to have infrastructural development? How do you want to grow as a nation?”
So, his concern was not about power alone but infrastructure development in general.
“Our mandate this year is to work with the National Assembly to see if we can meet up to 50 per cent of our execution of our capital project for the year.”
If we attain 50 per cent, he said, we will be “fine” as a nation.
The National Assembly and the nation should not take the revelation lightly. It poses a fundamental question. We must hold the culprits responsible. The EFCC ought to fish them out and prosecute them. Scapegoats are necessary in this matter of power emergency.
Sir: Nigeria’s persistent struggle with power outages has reached a critical point as the national grid faces repeated failures, creating a climate of frustration, stagnation, and economic uncertainty. The most recent grid collapse has left countless Nigerians without power, affecting homes, industries, and essential services. This marks the eighth failure this year, a shocking statistic that brings into focus the nation’s glaring energy deficiencies.
Each grid collapse disrupts daily life and threatens Nigeria’s economic stability. Industrial processes grind to a halt, businesses incur losses, and vital services such as hospitals and security agencies face severe operational disruptions. Many Nigerians are forced to rely on expensive, unreliable alternative power sources. These conditions intensify public dissatisfaction and highlight the urgent need for robust, sustainable solutions rather than temporary measures.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and other power authorities often focus on restoring electricity after each collapse. Yet, this approach fails to address the systemic issues within the grid infrastructure. The current network, heavily outdated and overstretched, lacks the resilience to support Nigeria’s growing population and economic demands.
Without addressing these root issues, grid collapses will continue to hinder development and growth.
Historically, Nigeria’s power infrastructure has suffered from underfunding, mismanagement, and a lack of long-term planning. While government efforts have included short-term repairs and quick fixes, these actions have not led to significant improvements. Experts argue that a sustainable solution requires a complete overhaul, including investment in new technologies and infrastructure.
One of the fundamental problems facing Nigeria’s grid is its reliance on centralized generation. Many experts have called for decentralized energy solutions, such as mini-grids and renewable energy sources. Such systems would reduce the strain on the national grid and provide more stable power to remote and rural areas, which often suffer the most during power failures.
Moreover, the power sector needs stronger regulatory oversight to enforce standards, improve accountability, and ensure transparency in project implementation. An independent regulatory body could help prevent mismanagement and corruption, which have historically plagued the sector. Stronger regulation would also build public trust, which is currently low due to the frequent blackouts and perceived inefficiency.
Another solution lies in diversifying energy sources. While Nigeria has vast natural gas reserves, the country has yet to leverage renewable energy effectively. Investing in solar, wind, and hydropower would diversify energy production and reduce dependence on traditional, often unreliable, sources. Renewable energy is also more environmentally sustainable and can offer long-term economic benefits.
Countries like Kenya and South Africa have made notable strides in renewable energy. Nigeria can learn from their experiences, tailoring strategies to fit its unique circumstances. Transitioning to renewable energy may be challenging, but it could mark a turning point in solving the country’s energy crisis.
Foreign investments could also play a role in revamping Nigeria’s power infrastructure. However, attracting investment requires stability and transparent policies. The government must create a favourable business environment, encouraging international stakeholders to invest in energy projects that contribute to long-term grid stability.
To further stabilize the grid, modernizing the existing infrastructure with smart grid technologies is essential. Smart grids allow for better demand management, real-time monitoring, and faster response to disruptions. Countries around the world have implemented smart grids with considerable success, finding them to be cost-effective in the long run.
Education and training in power management should not be overlooked. Building local expertise in energy systems will reduce reliance on foreign contractors and create job opportunities for Nigerians. Investing in education would foster a skilled workforce capable of managing and maintaining a modern grid.
Another vital component of a sustainable solution is community involvement. Engaging local communities in power projects ensures that solutions are tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. Furthermore, involving the public in energy discussions can build understanding and patience as Nigeria navigates the path toward energy stability.
The government has an opportunity to pivot toward sustainable energy solutions. By choosing long-term investments over temporary fixes, Nigeria can finally break free from the cycle of grid failures. A stable, reliable energy supply would be a powerful engine for economic growth and social development, positioning Nigeria as a leader in energy resilience in Africa.
•Aisha Abubakar Tijjani,
Borno State University, Maiduguri
“The grid didn’t collapse three times in October. We had grid disturbances only two times. I think the first was on Monday (October 14) and the second yesterday (Saturday October 19). There was news that the grid collapsed again on Tuesday. That one was incorrect. On Monday, we were to fix the grid but had some setbacks”.
That was the managing director of the government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, disputing the initial account which suggested that the power grid collapsed for three days.
Going by the official account, the October 14 collapse, described as ‘partial’, was due to the tripping of a line at the Jebba Transmission Substation and recurring fault at the Osogbo Transmission Substation.
On the other hand, the incident on October 19 was put to a deliberate protective shutdown of the grid as a result of the explosion of the Jebba transformer.
That the incident would be the seventh of such in the current year makes their occurrence too many.
So much for what appeared to be a cynical attempt to pass off a problem known to be endemic as normal occurrence, Nigerians must be relieved that key stakeholders are at least sufficiently embarrassed to demand prompt action.
First was Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who last week summoned the leadership of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and TCN to an emergency meeting. Among the outcomes were a “forensic investigation committee to advise the government on necessary solutions to make the national grid robust and reliable”, and, the empanelling of a six-member technical committee to assess the critical nodes on the national grid to identify potential vulnerabilities.
The committee is expected to turn its report in by November 1.
A no less embarrassed NERC would also bring together the Generation Companies (GenCos); Distribution Companies (DisCos); professional bodies; experts; civil society organisations (CSOs), and members of the general public, at its headquarters in Abuja, ostensibly to get to the root of the problem.
“We are here again and the commission’s intention is to truly give guidance towards finding a final solution to what is a very embarrassing moment for the country. In short, we have heard this story that infrastructure is old, fragile, low generation, free governor control, all these high-tech stories that we seem to repeat over and over again about finding a solution”, NERC chairman, Sanusi Garba, reportedly told participants at the parley.
Also at the meeting, the TCN’s managing director, Abdulaziz, represented by the Executive Director, Independent System Operator (ISO), Nafisat Ali, reeled out the usual challenges: the lack of ‘Free Governor Control’ by the generators causing negative frequency response, most times, system instability; generation inadequacy due to equipment fault; failure of generating stations to absorb or produce reactive power as well as non-harmonisation of gas pipeline and power plant units maintenance schedule, among others.
He also identified other factors as non-compliance to annual maintenance schedule plan and lack of spinning reserve; the need for single circuits to be doubled, the insecurity and vandalism of power transmission equipment and other related facilities, among other major challenges.
In all, he blamed the incessant grid collapse on the defective and obsolete transmission equipment, relay settings and coordination, lack of reliability-centred maintenance, inadequate Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and communication equipment and inadequate voltage compensating devices.
Said the TCN boss: “Most of the equipment we are using are over 40 to 50 years old. So it is not possible for that equipment to work perfectly. So we are doing our best. We know we can do more. But at least, we are getting to know the problems one by one”.
What is regrettable is not that the problems afflicting the grid are not known or already documented, but the official penchant for reminders only after things have gone wrong. What would the minister’s six-man committee come up with that the industry leaders, including the National Assembly which holds the purse, do not already know?
Truth is that the problem has actually been over-dissected. What Nigerians expect are those actions already taken to address the problems? How much of the funds voted to address those specific problems that have constituted the giant albatross have been released, and what measurable progress could be said to have been made? What additional steps are being taken to bridge whatever gaps between what has been done and what is required? In other words, when should Nigerians hope to begin to enjoy the stability as promised under the new power sector governance framework? This seems the least Nigerians could ask for after nearly two decades of the country’s power sector reform journey.
Worried at the disturbance on the national grid which threw some sections of the country into darkness twice within the week, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu at the weekend summoned the leadership of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Transmission company of Nigeria (TCN) to an emergency meeting.
The Minister expressed displeasure at the incident, which he said, was capable of rubbishing the giant strides made in the last one year which has led to an increased generation and distribution of 5, 527 megawatts, a record generation in three years.
This was made known in a press statement his Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Mr. Bolaji Tunji issued from Abuja yesterday.
The statement said Adelabu also constituted a forensic investigation committee with a mandate to advise the government on necessary solutions to make the national grid robust and reliable in addition to the ongoing efforts of the government like the Presidential Power Initiatives (PPI) and the Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project (NETAP).
The Committee is to also establish the root cause of both incidents especially a review of potential sabotage on the system.
The Committee will holistically review the national grid stability and identify investments and technical capacities required to make the grid smart and resilient.
In addition, a technical team has been deployed to access the critical nodes on the national grid to identify potential vulnerabilities and proffer recommendations to address these vulnerabilities to prevent future disruptions to the grid.
On Monday, October 14, there was a partial collapse due to the tripping of a line at the Jebba Transmission Substation and recurring fault at the Osogbo Transmission Substation. Efforts to restore the grid further resulted in a setback the following day. The System was however fully restored on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. There was no grid collapse on Tuesday as was widely speculated as the setback was a continuation of Monday’s restoration efforts on the grid.
Also what was described on Saturday, October 19, as grid collapse was a deliberate protective shut down of the grid as a result of the explosion of the Jebba transformer. And this was restored within two hours. “ What we had were more of grid disturbances than collapses”.
Preliminary assessment of Jebba incident suggested that the explosion was as a result of ageing equipment unrelated to the initial collapse.
The six-member committee are; Engr. Nafisat Ali, Executive Director, Independent System Operator (ISO), who leads the committee, Dr. Chidi Ike, Commissioner, NERC, Engr. Ishola (GM. National Control Centre (NCC) , Engr. Emmanuel Nosike, Director, Transmission, Federal Ministry of Power (FMoP), Engr. Ali Sharifai (GM, Transmission Service Provider (TSP) and Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power.
The team is expected to present a report to the Minister by November 1, 2024.
Many states were last night thrown into darkness following the collapse of the national grid.
Power generation dropped to 0MW, for the sixth time this year.
As of press time, TCN had yet to state the cause of the collapse.
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) said the grid collapse led to a loss of power supply across their networks.
They assured customers that they would provide updates as soon as more information was available.
The dashboards of the Independent System Operator showed that 183MW was allocated to only six DisCos as of 9.41 pm.
Abuja DisCo got 30MW; Benin DisCo, 60MW; Eko DisCo, 20MW; Enugu DisCo, 15MW;. Ibadan DisCo 18MW and Ikeja DisCo, 40MW..
Others had zero allocation.
The Transition Company of Nigeria (TCN) had on September 18 launched a Supervisory Control Data Acquisition (SCADA) to monitor the grid.