The Federal Government has identified poor maintenance practices and outdated equipment as the main reasons for the repeated collapses of Nigeria’s national power grid.
An investigative committee led by Nafisatu Asabe Ali presented these findings in Abuja on Wednesday, just one day after the latest grid collapse on November 5, 2024—the 10th this year.
Ali explained that high voltage overloads have been causing major blackouts, such as those on October 14 and 19. “For the event on the 14th, lightning arrestors in Jebba and Oshogbo shattered… due to high voltage,” Ali said, noting that one reactor in Jebba had already failed, leading to dangerously high voltage levels.
She further highlighted that much of the equipment, some dating back to the 1960s, is severely outdated and suffers from poor maintenance. “If you expose equipment to high voltages for a long time, it degrades the insulation. And, of course, there’s a risk of failure,” she added.
The committee also pointed to issues like vandalism, uncoordinated maintenance, and lack of skilled staff as major hurdles in managing the power grid.
Reacting to the report, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu stressed the urgency of solving these issues, stating, “This incessant grid collapse is quite unfortunate and is worrisome to me personally as the Minister of Power overseeing this sector.” Adelabu said the ministry would seek extra funding in the 2024 Supplementary Budget and the 2025 Appropriation Bill to address the costs of these improvements.
The committee recommended several measures, including:
- Regular testing and auditing of equipment
- Improving maintenance schedules
- Installing filters on lines to prevent overloads
- Decentralizing equipment storage for easier access
- Enforcing proper operation modes at power plants
These reforms aim to end the grid’s frequent failures, which have led to blackouts across Nigeria several times in 2024, including on February 4, March 28, April 15, July 6, August 5, and three times in October.
