By : Zainab Aliyu O

Nigeria’s main source of power ‘the national grid’ has experienced its tenth collapse in 2024 causing widespread blackouts.
The entire nation has been plunged into darkness again following the collapse of the power station on Tuesday afternoon leaving billions without electricity and disrupting daily life, business and essential services.

Despite promises for stability, aging infrastructure and recent transmission issues, including a fire at Jebba station, have intensified outages. Power authorities face mounting pressure to resolve recurring grid failures affecting homes and industries across the nation.

October alone saw multiple outages, sparking widespread frustration and highlighting ongoing issues with Nigeria’s power infrastructure. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed one of these outages to a fire at the Jebba transmission station and cited aging infrastructure as a recurring cause of grid instability.

TCN’s General Manager, Ndidi Mbah, noted a 76.47% reduction in grid disturbances compared to five years ago, yet the frequency of recent incidents continues to draw concern from officials and the public. Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu acknowledged that outdated equipment remains a major issue behind the grid’s persistent failures, while the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) emphasized the severe impact these incidents have on households and industries. The TCN has not yet stated the specific cause of the latest collapse.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi