The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) announced on Saturday that it will hold an investigative public hearing to address the frequent grid collapses and widespread blackouts. According to a statement posted on its X account, the date and location of the hearing will be published in national newspapers.
This follows another grid collapse earlier in the day, around 8:15 a.m., which left many cities without power, just days after a similar incident on Tuesday. There have been more than six grid collapses in 2024 alone.
NERC expressed concern over the rising frequency of grid disruptions, which have led to blackouts across multiple states, undermining recent progress in reducing infrastructure gaps and improving grid stability.
The statement explained that Saturday’s outage was caused by an explosion at the Jebba transmission station at 8:15 a.m., which led to a cascade of power plant shutdowns. Power was mostly restored by 1:00 p.m. in 33 states and the FCT.
NERC also noted ongoing efforts to separate the System Operator (ISO) from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), as outlined in the Electricity Act 2023. This move is expected to improve grid management and infrastructure investment.
To find a long-term solution to the grid issues, NERC will soon conduct a public hearing to investigate the root causes of the recurring disruptions. Stakeholders will be invited to participate, with details to be announced.
Earlier in the week, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi called the grid collapse a “national disgrace,” citing it as evidence of leadership and policy failures in the power sector.
Since the government’s 2013 privatization of power generation and distribution companies, the grid has continued to face collapses despite efforts to reform the sector.