The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has set up a forensic investigation committee to address the frequent national grid collapses that have caused widespread blackouts in parts of the country.
This follows two major incidents within a week that left many areas without power. According to a statement by the minister’s media aide, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu summoned the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for an emergency meeting to discuss the recurring problem.
Expressing his displeasure, Adelabu said the grid collapses threaten to undermine recent progress in power generation, which had peaked at 5,527 megawatts—a three-year record.
He emphasised the importance of a stable grid to maintain the momentum achieved by government initiatives like the Presidential Power Initiatives and the Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project.
The newly formed committee has been tasked with investigating the root cause of the grid failures, including the possibility of sabotage. In addition to finding immediate solutions, the committee will also assess the investments and technical improvements necessary to make the grid more resilient and smart.
A technical team has been dispatched to inspect critical points in the grid and identify vulnerabilities that need addressing.
The minister clarified that what was perceived as a full collapse on October 19 was actually a protective shutdown due to an explosion at the Jebba Transmission Substation, which was quickly restored within two hours.
He added that the disruptions on October 14 and 16 were due to line trips at both the Jebba and Osogbo Transmission Substations.
The six-member committee, led by top engineers and experts from NERC, TCN, and the Federal Ministry of Power, is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the minister by November 1, 2024.
