FG Overhauling National Grid to Boost Power Supply: Official

The Federal Government is undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s national grid to address frequent disruptions and improve power supply, according to the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu. Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Adelabu noted that the grid infrastructure, over 50 years old, is weakened by ageing components, dilapidated lines, and obsolete substations with outdated transformers.

“This grid requires a lot of money to maintain to ensure adequate and regular service,” Adelabu explained. “What we have now, we will continue to manage and prevent frequent disturbances until we can overhaul this infrastructure 100 percent.”

Adelabu highlighted several initiatives aimed at modernising the grid, including the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), commonly known as the Siemens project, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) expansion programme, backed by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The Siemens project’s pilot phase recently concluded with the importation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations, and the upcoming phase is expected to further enhance grid performance.

Emphasising the positive strides made, the minister noted, “Many old power transformers have been replaced by new ones, and mobile substations have been installed where needed, contributing to the stability we’re seeing.”

Adelabu urged Nigerians to protect power infrastructure from vandalism, stressing that damage to these facilities incurs significant costs and hardship. He assured the public that efforts to modernise the grid would continue, aiming for long-term stability and reliability in the nation’s power supply. Tinubu Commits to Naira-Based Oil Transactions for Stability