FG Panel Blames Poor Maintenance for Frequent Grid Collapses

The Federal Government has attributed the frequent collapses of Nigeria’s national power grid to a poor maintenance culture, aging infrastructure, and inadequate equipment, alongside other challenges. The government highlighted that these issues have led to multiple power outages, most recently on October 14 and 19, 2024, when high voltage levels exceeded equipment capacity and triggered nationwide blackouts.

Nafisatu Asabe Ali, Chair of the investigative committee assessing the grid failures, shared these findings at a report presentation at the ministry headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday. The briefing followed yet another grid collapse on Tuesday, marking the tenth occurrence this year alone. Ali disclosed that the investigation team observed recurring issues across all stations involved in the power grid.

The report detailed the October incidents, linking them to lightning arrestor failures at the Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations, and a current transformer explosion at Jebba. According to Ali, “The high voltage in Jebba—caused by the unavailability of a second reactor—caused lightning arrestors to shatter and resulted in multiple tripping of 330kV lines, eventually leading to a full grid collapse.”

Ali further explained that the aged infrastructure contributes significantly to these issues. For example, some equipment in Jebba, commissioned in 1968, remains in operation without sufficient maintenance, compromising the stability of the entire system.

The committee also cited factors such as vandalism, inadequate coordination of maintenance schedules, and limited technical capacity as contributing issues. In response, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu announced that the ministry would seek additional funds through the 2024 Supplementary Budget and the 2025 Appropriation Bill to address these critical infrastructure needs.

Adelabu voiced optimism that implementing the committee’s recommendations, which include regular equipment audits, maintenance improvements, installation of harmonics filters by distribution and generation companies, decentralization of TCN’s central store, and enforcing Free Governor Mode of Operation, will stabilize the grid and reduce the frequency of collapses. He emphasized that the reforms are essential to ensure the reliability of Nigeria’s power sector.