By John Ikani
Nigeria has grappled with a total of 227 instances of grid collapses – both partial and complete breakdowns – between the years 2010 and April 2024, amid inconsistent power distribution.
Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), revealed in a statement released on Wednesday.
Mbah noted a significant downtrend in grid collapses over the past five years, with a decrease of 76.47%. During this recent period, there were 20 grid disturbances, a stark contrast to the 85 collapses experienced in the preceding five years.
“Contrary to popular belief, there has been a gradual reduction in grid disturbances and system collapses in recent times,” Mbah highlighted.
“From 2020 to the present, there were fourteen total and six partial grid disturbances, totaling twenty (20). This marks a notable 76.47% reduction compared to the previous five years, from 2015 to 2019, when there were sixty-four total and twenty-one partial grid disturbances, totaling eighty-five (85) occurrences.”
The news arrives amid the recent announcement of a 240% surge in electricity tariffs by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on April 3, 2024.
The decision has sparked widespread backlash, with Nigerians, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, manufacturers, and other organizations demanding its reversal.
Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu defended the tariff hike, cautioning that without it, the nation could face looming darkness.
