By hannover-web.com The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has taken immediate action in response to recent disturbances in Nigeria’s electricity grid, which have included instances of complete grid collapses. In a move to address these challenges, he has called an emergency meeting with the heads of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“This year alone, we have seen up to eight disturbances in the grid, leaving parts of the country plunged into darkness,” noted Bolaji Tunji, spokesman for the minister. Adelegbu expressed his frustration over these incidents, emphasizing that they pose a serious threat to the progress made in the past year, particularly the achievement of generating and distributing a record 5,527 megawatts—a significant milestone in the past three years.
To investigate the underlying causes of these issues, Adelabu has established a forensic investigation committee tasked with providing recommendations to enhance the national grid’s reliability and resilience. This committee will also look into the possibility of sabotage related to the incidents. “We need to thoroughly assess the current state of the national grid, identify the necessary investments, and bolster our technical capabilities to ensure it becomes smarter and more resilient,” he stated.
In addition to the committee, a specialized technical team has been deployed to examine critical points on the national grid to uncover vulnerabilities and propose necessary solutions. Adelabu referred to the partial collapse that occurred on October 14, which was triggered by a fault at the Jebba Transmission Substation. Unfortunately, attempts to restore the grid the next day were met with further setbacks. However, he confirmed that by October 16, the system had been fully restored.
Clarifying confusion regarding the events of October 19, the minister explained that what was labeled a grid collapse was actually a precautionary shutdown following a transformer explosion at Jebba. “What we’ve really experienced are disturbances, not full collapses,” he clarified.
The six-member committee includes notable figures such as Nafisat Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator (ISO); Dr. Chidi Ike, Commissioner of NERC; and other key stakeholders. The committee is expected to deliver its findings to the minister by November 1, 2024.
On another note, the TCN reported a technical fault in its 330kV Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines, leading to widespread power outages across the north-east, north-west, and parts of north-central Nigeria. The first tripping at 4:53 am was followed by a failure of the second line just minutes later, leading to a total power loss of 468 MW.
TCN teams have been dispatched to troubleshoot the identified routes, which include 245 transmission towers over a 215 km stretch. While the Apir team is actively searching for the fault, operations were hindered for a portion of the Enugu team due to a local “sit-at-home” directive.
The TCN remains committed to tracing the outage’s cause and restoring power supply. “We sincerely apologize to both the government and consumers affected. Our teams faced significant challenges during their search, including difficult terrains and security issues,” the company stated.
In response to the ongoing power crises, the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, led by Kunle Olubiyo, has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the power sector, stressing the need for an urgent review of the sector’s privatization efforts given the ongoing failures. “It’s imperative for the President to take immediate action for the national interest,” Olubiyo has asserted.
