The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced plans to launch a public investigation into the increasing frequency of national grid disturbances that have caused widespread power outages nationwide.
This decision comes in response to the eighth grid collapse in the past 10 months, the latest of which occurred on Saturday, leaving many Nigerians in darkness.
The most recent incident is the third grid disturbance in just one week, raising serious concerns about the stability of the country’s electricity supply. In a statement posted on its official X handle, NERC expressed its alarm over the ongoing disruptions, warning that the frequent collapses could undo recent advancements in grid infrastructure and stability.
Although significant progress has been made in restoring power, NERC confirmed that electricity was largely restored by 1 PM in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In line with the Electricity Act 2023, NERC is also in the process of unbundling the System Operator function from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a bid to improve grid management and attract more investment into infrastructure.
NERC stated that the upcoming public hearing will aim to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes of the recurring grid collapses. Details of the hearing will soon be made available in national dailies, and all stakeholders are urged to participate.
Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the latest grid collapse to an explosion at the Jebba Transmission Station. According to TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the blast triggered a temporary disturbance, but power restoration efforts are underway. Engineers at the station have isolated the faulty equipment and reconfigured the busbar arrangement, ensuring the resumption of power supply to affected areas.
This incident marks the third disturbance within a week and adds to the growing number of national grid failures that have plagued Nigeria’s electricity sector. The Federal Government has vowed to investigate the ongoing collapses and find a lasting solution.