Details Of How Nigeria’s Power Grid Collapsed 46 Times In Six Years

Nigeria’s national power grid managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, collapsed 46 times from 2017 to 2023, a report by the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday.

In 2023, Nigerians experienced at least three nationwide blackouts on September 14, 19, and December 11 caused by various reasons, including a fire on major transmission lines.

According to the IEA report, an estimated 40 per cent of all electricity consumed is produced from backup generators due to unreliable power supply in Nigeria.

Details Of How Nigeria’s Power Grid Collapsed 46 Times In Six Years

The report blamed limited grid infrastructure, vandalism, underinvestment, and ineffective regulatory framework for the challenges faced by Nigeria’s power sector.

“Unreliable power supply due to limited grid infrastructure, underinvestment, and ineffective regulatory frameworks have resulted in an estimated 40 per cent of all the electricity consumed in the country being produced from backup generators,” IEA stated.

Recall that in 2022 alone, the country’s national grid collapsed eight times.

Nigeria’s power sector has experienced broad challenges such as lack of investment, electricity policy enforcement, regulatory uncertainty, gas supply, transmission system constraints, and major power sector planning shortfalls in recent years.