Nigeria’s electricity sector is facing major challenges, including recurring power grid outages and blackouts. To better understand the causes of these malfunctions, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced a public hearing to investigate the immediate and proximate causes of these incidents.
In a recent statement, NERC expressed concern over the recent escalation of grid disruptions, often leading to major blackouts in several states and undermining recent progress made in reducing the infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability. The commission noted that disruptions to the power grid negatively impact the country’s development and hamper efforts to strengthen energy infrastructure.
Authorities attributed the most recent incident to a current transformer explosion at the Jebba transmission station, triggering a cascade of power plant outages due to loss of load. The incident led to a major power outage in several parts of the country. However, efforts have been made to restore power, and progress has been made with significant recovery of electricity in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Furthermore, NERC has stressed the importance of separating the System Operator (SO) function from the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc, in line with the provisions of the Electricity Act. This move is aimed at strengthening discipline in grid management and optimizing investments in energy infrastructure.
It is essential that concrete steps are taken to address the structural challenges of the electricity sector in Nigeria and ensure stable and reliable power supply to citizens. The public hearing announced by NERC provides an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to identifying solutions and improving the management of the electricity grid to meet the growing electricity needs in the country.
It is imperative that the authorities implement strategic reforms to enhance the efficiency and resilience of the electricity grid, thereby ensuring stable energy supply to support Nigeria’s socio-economic development.