Nigerians experienced another widespread blackout on Tuesday following the tenth collapse of the national power grid this year. According to FRONTPAGE reports, the latest grid failure occurred at approximately 1:52 pm, disrupting electricity supply nationwide. The incident marks the fourth grid collapse in less than a month, sparking renewed frustrations among Nigerians.
Power generation plummeted from a morning peak of 3,934.77 megawatts to zero by early afternoon. According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the grid experienced “a partial disturbance” attributed to cascading line and generator failures, causing severe instability across the system. TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah confirmed the situation, noting that while Abuja’s power had been restored by 2:49 pm, efforts to restore electricity to other parts of the country were ongoing.
Electricity distribution companies (DisCos) across Nigeria, including Ikeja DisCo, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ibadan DisCo, and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, informed customers of power outages and are collaborating with TCN to restore service.
Affected regions included the north and south, with reports of extended outages in Damaturu, Jos, Gombe, and Lagos, as well as southeastern states like Enugu, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo. Many hospitals, schools, and businesses were left in the dark, causing significant disruptions.
Persistent grid collapses have raised questions about Nigeria’s power infrastructure, especially as Nigerians continue to face blackouts despite substantial investments in the power sector. Data from FRONTPAGE shows that Nigeria has received around $4.36 billion in loans from the World Bank over the past decade to bolster its energy sector, but the issues remain.
Sector analysts and advocates have pointed to the need for a comprehensive technical review. Adeolu Taiwo, an energy analyst, expressed concern over the lack of investigation into the underlying causes of these failures, suggesting that problems with network configuration, load balancing, and outdated equipment could be contributing factors. “A detailed investigation is essential to identify the underlying technical reasons for the disturbances and equipment failures,” Taiwo said.
The grid’s frequent breakdowns have drawn criticism from electricity consumer rights advocates. Princewill Okorie, Convener of the Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre, voiced frustration with the poor infrastructure and lack of transparency. He questioned the quality of materials used and raised concerns about the lack of supervision in connecting transformers and other grid components. Okorie noted that many consumers, especially those on estimated billing systems, are forced to pay despite frequent outages.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stressed the need for regional or state-based grids to prevent recurring nationwide blackouts. Adelabu highlighted that the infrastructure is in critical condition, making grid failures almost inevitable until a comprehensive overhaul is undertaken. “We keep talking about grid collapse…given the state of our power infrastructure, it will continue to remain like this until we can overhaul the entire infrastructure,” he remarked.
As Nigeria continues to struggle with a fragile power grid, calls are growing for more decentralized and resilient solutions, particularly in light of ongoing disruptions that impact daily life and economic activities across the country.
