NIGERIA:National Power Grid Collapses Again, Causing Widespread Blackout

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

For the fourth time in the year 2024, the National Electricity Grid has collapsed again on Saturday, plunging states in Nigeria and the FCT into widespread darkness.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija reports that the grid went down around 3pm in the afternoon following which the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has also affirmed the incident. 

According to astatement by the EEDC, it stated that all its interfaces at Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) stations are out of supply, leaving it unable to provide services to customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States.

The statement sighted by OPEN TELEVISION Naija reads that "the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company wishes to inform its esteemed customers of a general system collapse that occurred at 3pm on Saturday, July 6, 2024.This development has resulted in loss of supply across the network in some States". 

Also following this development, OPEN TELEVISION Naija further  reports that power and energy souces reported that all the Interface TCN Stations are totally out of supply, which they are unable to provide services to the Customers in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States. 

The Head of Corporate Communications for EEDC, Emeka Ezeh, said in his statement that "We are on standby, awaiting detailed information on the collapse incident and also awaiting the restoration of supply from the National Control Centre in Osogbo."

According to the Independent System Operator, an autonomous arm of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the power plants' contribution to the grid started decreasing around 2 pm, dropping from an average of 3,417.99MW to 2,797.16MW.

By 3 pm, on Saturday July 6, 2024, electricity generation had further declined to 1,020.08MW, before dramatically falling to a mere 0.80MW by 4 pm. The Trans-Amadi Power Plant was the only plant generating electricity, producing a meager 0.80MW.

This marks the fourth time the national power grid has collapsed in the year 2024. The frequent grid collapses have resulted in widespread blackouts, disrupting economic activities and causing inconvenience to citizens.

As at the time of filing this report, the cause of the latest grid collapse is yet to be ascertained, but investigations are ongoing to determine the root cause and prevent future occurrences. In the meantime, Nigerians will have to rely on alternative sources of power to meet their energy needs.