Nigeria’s national grid experienced another disturbance today, November 8, marking the latest in a series of disruptions impacting the country’s electricity supply.
Yesterday, the grid collapsed around 11:29 AM, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reporting that the incident was caused by an unexpected frequency spike from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz. The collapse on Thursday was after the grid suffered a disturbance the previous day.
“Following the submission of the investigative report on the causes of previous grid collapses, TCN has begun addressing the identified weaknesses in the transmission system,” Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, said in a statement dated November 7.
“Efforts are being made to close the gaps highlighted in the report and to enhance the overall stability and resilience of the grid. These efforts include both technical upgrades and strategic interventions based on the committee’s recommendations,” she added.
Today’s collapse is the second to occur within a 24-hour period, adding to a year marked by at least eight other grid failures.
The outages and persistent instability have raised concerns about the impact on Nigeria’s economy and public infrastructure.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed an innovative approach to infrastructure financing, suggesting the “facilitation of a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors.”
“Due to the priority that I place on the power sector, upon which the successes of other sectors are hinged, I am proposing innovative financing of infrastructure that will involve a review of the financial, legal, and regulatory environment to promote private investment in power, among other sectors,” he said.
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the last general election, described the October grid collapse as a national disgrace.
“This recurring disaster is a national shame and a glaring testament to the failure of leadership and policy implementation at the highest levels,” said the former Governor of Anambra State.
“How long must Nigerians endure a system that fails to provide one of the critical necessities for a productive society?” he asked.
