In a concerning turn of events, Nigeria’s power supply experienced a staggering 93.5% drop, plummeting to a mere 273 megawatts (MW) in the early hours of today.
This sharp decline from the 4,182 MW recorded just days ago on Monday was attributed to a complete system collapse brought about by equipment failures and grid disturbances within the nation’s power sector.
Data sourced from the Nigeria Electricity System Operator, a semi-autonomous division of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), revealed that key power generation plants such as Afam VI, Dadinkowa, Ibom Power, Jebba, and Olorunsogo contributed 0.70 MW, 0.00 MW, 32.90 MW, 240 MW, and zero, respectively.
“Dear Esteemed Customers, We regret to inform you that the power outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to System Collapse of the National Grid,” Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company wrote on its X handle on Thursday.
The Managing Director/CEO of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, remained unavailable for comments, but a prominent industry leader confirmed the situation, stating, “The grid has been very unstable for days before the latest system collapse. As we speak, there is a blackout.”
Further investigations disclosed that Nigeria’s electricity generation witnessed a substantial 59% decline on Tuesday, reaching 1,705 MW, down from the 4,182 MW recorded the day before at 06:00 hours.
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This decline has left many households and businesses with no choice but to generate their own power independently, incurring higher costs.
This surge in self-generation is driven by the exorbitant prices of diesel, which now exceed N600 per liter, and the soaring cost of petrol, which has surged by approximately 169% since June 2023, reaching over N500 per liter.
Despite these challenges, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has reassured Nigerians of forthcoming improvements in the nation’s power supply.
At a recent reception held in his honor, he emphasized, “We know it’s not something that is achievable overnight, but we believe that once the foundation is laid, others can also build on it. I can tell you that between six months and one year, we will start seeing improvement in the power sector.”
As Nigeria grapples with this severe power supply crisis, hopes are pinned on government efforts to address the ongoing challenges and provide much-needed relief to citizens and businesses alike.
(Edited by Oludare Mayowa; omayowa@globalfinancialdigest.com; Newsroom: +234 8033 964 138)
