Addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Mr. Adelabu explained that the Shiroro-Kaduna line is a key power route supplying the northern region. Its destruction disrupted electricity in the affected states.

“The President has directed the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, and the Army and Air Force Chiefs to ensure adequate security for the repair teams,” the minister said. “With proper security, TCN staff and contractors will be able to safely access the site and carry out the repairs.”

Mr. Adelabu appealed to residents of the affected northern states for patience, assuring them that power would soon be restored. He urged citizens to protect critical infrastructure like the national grid to prevent further disruptions.

He also revealed that the Federal Executive Council had previously approved plans to upgrade the Shiroro-Kaduna line, one of the country’s oldest power transmission systems. Upon completion, this upgrade is expected to improve the stability of electricity supply across the North.

In response to concerns over customer billing during the outage, Mr. Adelabu promised to meet with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power distribution companies to ensure residents are not charged for the period of the blackout.

The minister also commented on recent power challenges, including two recent grid collapses caused by a transformer explosion at the Jebba power station. “The transformer that exploded was 47 years old,” he said, “and the national grid itself is more than 50 years old. Many of its transmission lines are weak, with failing towers, outdated substations, and aging transformers.”

He acknowledged that efforts to modernize the grid were underway but cautioned that the transformation would take time. “We can’t replace everything overnight,” he said. “Until we fully overhaul the system, we will continue to manage it to minimize disturbances.”

Mr. Adelabu concluded by emphasizing the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding the grid, underscoring the importance of uninterrupted power to national development.

The post Power to Be Restored to 17 Northern States After Grid Collapse – Adelabu appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

This decision comes in response to the eighth grid collapse in the past 10 months, the latest of which occurred on Saturday, leaving many Nigerians in darkness.

The most recent incident is the third grid disturbance in just one week, raising serious concerns about the stability of the country’s electricity supply. In a statement posted on its official X handle, NERC expressed its alarm over the ongoing disruptions, warning that the frequent collapses could undo recent advancements in grid infrastructure and stability.

Although significant progress has been made in restoring power, NERC confirmed that electricity was largely restored by 1 PM in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

In line with the Electricity Act 2023, NERC is also in the process of unbundling the System Operator function from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a bid to improve grid management and attract more investment into infrastructure.

NERC stated that the upcoming public hearing will aim to investigate both the immediate and underlying causes of the recurring grid collapses. Details of the hearing will soon be made available in national dailies, and all stakeholders are urged to participate.

Meanwhile, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the latest grid collapse to an explosion at the Jebba Transmission Station. According to TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the blast triggered a temporary disturbance, but power restoration efforts are underway. Engineers at the station have isolated the faulty equipment and reconfigured the busbar arrangement, ensuring the resumption of power supply to affected areas.

This incident marks the third disturbance within a week and adds to the growing number of national grid failures that have plagued Nigeria’s electricity sector. The Federal Government has vowed to investigate the ongoing collapses and find a lasting solution.

The post NERC to Investigate Frequent Grid Collapses After Latest Power Outage appeared first on Housing TV Africa.