FG Sets Up Committee to Tackle National Grid Challenges
The Federal Government has established a six-member committee to address the persistent challenges affecting the reliability and robustness of Nigeria’s national electricity grid. This initiative was announced by the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, through his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Mr Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The committee, led by Mr Nafisat Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator (ISO), includes key stakeholders from the power sector. Other members are Dr Chidi Ike, Commissioner at the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Engr Ishola, General Manager of the National Control Centre (NCC); Mr Emmanuel Nosike, Director of Transmission at the Ministry of Power; Mr Ali Sharifai, General Manager of the Transmission Service Provider (TSP); and Mr Adedayo Olowoniyi, Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power.
The committee has been tasked with submitting a report by November 1, 2024, which will include an analysis of the root causes of recent grid incidents and recommendations for necessary investments and technical upgrades to enhance the grid’s stability. “The committee will holistically review the national grid stability and identify investments and technical capacities required to make the grid smart and resilient,” the statement said.
The move comes in response to recent disturbances, including a partial collapse on October 14 caused by the tripping of a line at the Jebba Transmission Substation and recurring faults at the Osogbo Transmission Substation. Efforts to restore the grid led to further setbacks, but full restoration was achieved by October 16.
Contrary to speculation about a nationwide grid collapse on October 19, Mr Tunji clarified, “What was described as grid collapse was a deliberate protective shut down of the grid due to the explosion of the Jebba transformer, which was restored within two hours.” He also noted that the incident was likely caused by ageing equipment, unrelated to the earlier collapse.
The government’s efforts to resolve these issues extend beyond the newly formed committee. Ongoing initiatives, such as the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) and the Nigeria Electricity Transmission Project (NETAP), are aimed at ensuring a more reliable power supply across the country. A technical team has also been deployed to assess critical points on the national grid and offer recommendations to prevent future disruptions.
In addition, the Minister of Power held an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to discuss the recent grid disturbances and the way forward.
Mr Adelabu expressed his dissatisfaction with the incidents, stating that they could undermine the significant progress made in the power sector over the last year. The committee’s work is seen as a critical step towards ensuring a more stable and resilient national grid, capable of supporting the country’s growing energy needs. FG Issues Fresh Directives to Reduce Soaring LPG Costs
