National Grid Collapse Plunges Nigeria into Darkness
The nation grappled with a widespread blackout on Sunday afternoon as the national grid suffered a catastrophic collapse, resulting in a complete cessation of power generation.
Grid Failure Amidst Dwindling Power Generation
Around 1 pm on Sunday, February 4, 2024, the power generation plummeted from 2,407 megawatts (MW) to a mere 31 MW by noon before ultimately crashing to zero MW an hour later. This abrupt collapse in power generation left the entire country engulfed in darkness, highlighting the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
Distribution Companies Point Finger at TCN
Power distribution companies swiftly attributed the grid collapse to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), a government agency responsible for managing the national grid. Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Disco) confirmed the loss of bulk power supply, exacerbating the blackout in Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
Lingering Challenges and Government Response
The grid collapse underscores the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector, exacerbated by issues such as gas shortages and payment disputes with power generation companies. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the need for urgent measures to address gas constraints and outstanding payments. The government’s efforts to mitigate the blackout include reassurances of resolving outstanding payments to power generation companies and addressing gas supply challenges to improve power generation capacity.
