NERC performs its duty, explains why the frequent outages, seeks understanding. Hear them.
“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.
Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and associated cascade of power plants shutdown arising from the loss of load. However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.
In line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function (ISO) out of Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is ongoing with the expectation that an independent SO would engender more discipline in grid management and optimized investment in infrastructure.
In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing with a view to identifying immediate and remote causes of recurring incidence of grid disturbances and widespread outages.
The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate.”
It is important to also note that the history of electricity generation in Nigeria began in about 1896; our checks revealed that the same generation process had begun in England fifteen years earlier. Maybe we place both countries side by side to see how long the Nigerian power situation has wobbled, even with all the billions in foreign currencies politicians convert for their personal aggrandizement, in the name of investment.