Efforts to stabilize Nigeria’s national power grid faced another hurdle yesterday, as the grid collapsed for the fourth time in less than a month, further straining the country’s electricity supply system. According to data from the National System Operator, the collapse occurred just before 1 p.m., with Jebba and Shiroro Hydro Power stations dropping off the grid, causing national power generation to dip significantly.
By 12 noon, grid generation had been at 3,631.66 Megawatts (MW), but by 1 p.m., it had plunged to 2,711.84 MW. The situation worsened, with only Ibom Power remaining operational and generating a mere 61.60 MW by 2 p.m. Monday’s peak generation had reached 4,882.60 MW, highlighting the severity of yesterday’s drop.
This latest failure follows a series of recent grid collapses, with three occurring last month on October 14, 15, and 19. The October 19 collapse resulted in a prolonged blackout across 15 northern states, affecting millions and prompting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order immediate restoration efforts after meeting with affected state governors.
Responding to the recent incident, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which oversees the grid, characterized the collapse as a “partial disturbance” triggered by multiple line and generator trippings. “A partial disturbance occurred around 1:52 p.m. on 5th November 2024,” said Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs. She added that a portion of the grid remained unaffected by the bulk power disruption, and reassured Nigerians that TCN engineers were “working to restore bulk power to affected states.” As of 2:49 p.m., power had been restored to Abuja, with gradual efforts underway for other regions.
Consumers, however, have voiced frustration over ongoing power issues. Chijoke James, National Chairman of the Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, criticized the operators of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) for their inability to deliver reliable power. “Throughout October, power supply was inconsistent, yet consumers, especially those without meters, received the same high bills without any compensation,” he remarked. “Consumers in Band-A, who pay a premium for promised 20-hour daily supply, saw no improvement in service quality.”
James argued that the grid’s problems are structural, favoring operators over consumers. “The increase in revenue from Band-A tariffs since April hasn’t translated to better service. Tariffs are not the main issue; the industry has a structural flaw that benefits operators at consumers’ expense,” he stated, emphasizing the need for fundamental reforms to address the recurring crises.
In response to the power disruptions, various electricity distribution companies (DisCos) took to social media, acknowledging the outages and issuing apologies. They assured consumers that restoration efforts were in progress and expressed regret over the inconvenience caused.
