National Grid Collapses for the 12th Time in 2024, Highlighting Nigeria’s Power Sector Woes.
Nigeria’s national power grid has experienced its 12th collapse of the year, leaving millions of citizens in darkness on Wednesday, December 11. This latest failure, which occurred around 2:09 PM, was confirmed by the National Grid’s official handle, which stated, “The major grid setback has occurred, and restoration is to commence.” The collapse is part of an alarming trend, with 11 other incidents recorded between January and November, including three within a single week in October.
The repeated failures underscore the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure and its impact on the economy. The World Bank estimates that unreliable electricity costs the nation about $29 billion annually, compounding existing economic challenges like inflation and currency depreciation.
Experts have attributed the frequent collapses to a combination of aging infrastructure, underinvestment, vandalism, and generation shortfalls. Many of the country’s transmission lines and substations are over 40 years old, making them highly susceptible to breakdowns. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported that for every 100 megawatts supplied to the grid, 7.79 megawatts are lost during transmission.
Despite an installed generation capacity of 13,500 megawatts, Nigeria only distributes about one-third of this, which is insufficient for a population exceeding 200 million. The situation is further exacerbated by insecurity, with TCN recording over 100 attacks on transmission towers and lines in the past two years.
Years of underfunding have left the grid unable to handle surges in demand, particularly during peak periods, and privatization efforts initiated more than a decade ago have yielded limited improvements due to regulatory inconsistencies, financial challenges, and political interference.
In response, the government has implemented several initiatives aimed at stabilizing the power supply. States have been authorized to generate and transmit their own electricity, with Lagos and five other states now developing independent power markets to reduce reliance on the national grid. Collaborations with the World Bank are also underway to build 1,000 mini solar grids to electrify rural areas that have been underserved for decades.
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The frequent outages have had devastating consequences for businesses and industries. Manufacturers, heavily reliant on electricity, are forced to depend on expensive diesel generators, increasing production costs and eroding profitability. Experts warn that these recurring failures are more than just an inconvenience, describing them as a significant economic burden.
Calls for comprehensive reforms in the power sector have intensified. Stakeholders emphasize the need for substantial investment in modern infrastructure and renewable energy sources. Decentralized power solutions, particularly solar energy with storage capabilities, are being proposed as essential complements to the national grid.
The 12th collapse in one year highlights the urgent need for the government and stakeholders to prioritize sustainable energy reforms to stabilize the power sector. Without decisive action, the instability in electricity supply will continue to stifle economic growth and development in Nigeria.
