The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that ongoing efforts to stabilise the national power grid could take at least three weeks, following recent collapses that have resulted in widespread outages.
This week alone, the grid collapsed twice, adding to a total of 11 collapses recorded this year.
The TCN has identified three critical hubs – Shiroro in Niger State, Jebba, and Ganmo in Kwara State – as focal points of abnormal activities contributing to these collapses.
Engineers have been deployed to these sites with heavy equipment sourced from various substations under construction nationwide, according to Engineer Gbenga Ajiboye, Executive Director of TCN’s Transmission Services Provider.
While electricity was restored to parts of the country following Thursday’s collapse, TCN’s Independent System Operator (ISO) confirmed that 1,844MW was generated by 4 p.m. that day.
TCN’s Public Affairs General Manager, Ndidi Mbah, attributed Thursday’s outage to a sudden frequency surge, noting that the issues have sparked extensive repair efforts on critical transmission lines, including those on the Shiroro–Mando axis.
Mbah explained that recent grid failures prompted TCN to address weaknesses identified in an investigative report, which recommended technical upgrades and strategic interventions for stability.
Repairs are ongoing on key lines and substations, while plans to modernise infrastructure and implement a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system are in motion.
Minister Adelabu Calls for Funding, Blames Vandalism and Aging Infrastructure
Nigeria’s Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, has called for funding to implement the committee’s recommendations on grid stability, suggesting a supplementary budget or inclusion in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
He blamed the frequent collapses on vandalism, aging infrastructure, and a history of poor maintenance. Despite the challenges, Adelabu praised the TCN’s swift response to restore power within 24 hours after each collapse.
The committee, led by Nafisat Ali, recommended testing existing equipment at critical nodes, enhancing staff capacity, and adopting reliability-centered maintenance practices.
Lagos Seeks Bids for 4GW Gas-Fired Power Plants to Address Power Deficit
In response to ongoing grid instability, the Lagos State Government has invited bids for the construction of gas-fired power plants under its Clean Lagos Electricity Market initiative.
Currently, Lagos receives only 2GW from the national grid – 4GW short of its minimum demand.
The state plans to establish four power hubs, each with a minimum capacity of 500MW, developed by independent power producers based on power purchase agreements with the state.
