The Federal Government has acknowledged the persistent vulnerability of Nigeria’s national electricity grid, stating that grid collapses will continue in the foreseeable future. Speaking in Abuja during a budget defense session with the Senate Committee on Power, chaired by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu outlined the challenges facing the country’s power sector.

Minister Adelabu attributed the fragility of the national grid to systemic issues, including vandalism and unresolved infrastructure damage. He revealed that the failure to repair the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, damaged during a vandalism incident in October 2024 has placed immense strain on the grid.

“The Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line was one of the two major lines transmitting power to the north,” Adelabu explained. “While the Ugwuaji-Makurdi line has been repaired, the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line remains down due to insecurity. This reliance on a single line has rendered the grid highly fragile.”

Adelabu also disclosed that the grid suffered eight collapses in 2024, with five being full collapses and three partial collapses caused by generation issues. He refuted claims of 12 collapses, noting that vandalism and generation imbalances were the main culprits.

While admitting that complete prevention of grid collapses is currently unfeasible, the Minister emphasized the government’s focus on reducing their frequency and improving turnaround times for power restoration. “We recognize the issues with full or partial grid collapses, but our focus is on reducing the time it takes to restore power. We are actively collaborating with security agencies to achieve this,” Adelabu stated.

The Minister highlighted a series of initiatives to bolster the power sector, including:

• N36 Billion Investment: Distribution of transformers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to improve power infrastructure.
• Revamping Substations: Phase 1 of a major upgrade targeting five critical substations nationwide.
• Addressing Estimated Billing: Efforts to eliminate estimated billing practices, which currently affect over seven million electricity customers.

The Federal Government’s proposed measures aim to address immediate challenges while laying the groundwork for long-term stability in Nigeria’s power sector. However, with insecurity and infrastructural deficiencies persisting, the road to a reliable and sustainable electricity grid remains fraught with obstacles.

Source: Vanguard

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