. Details of the 8th grid collapse in 2024 and why more manufacturers now boycott supply from the ‘weak link’
Nigeria has been plunged into a fresh nationwide blackout as the national electricity transmission system popularly known as National grid suffered yet another total collapse.
Platforms Africa reports that the system failure, which rocked the epectricity transmission network at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, was the third collapse in just 5 days and the 8th collapse in the last nine months of the years 2024.
‘4,067MW To 1,255MW,’ How Power Generation Sank During 5th Grid Collapse of 2024
‘6th Time In 9 Months,’ How Grid Collapsed, Plunged Nigeria Into Darkness
‘Manufacturers, Others Boycott National Grid,’ Power Minister Laments
7th Time In Four Months, National Grid Collapses Again
At the time of the collapse, power supply across the grid dropped to 0 megawatts (MW), disrupting distribution to all electricity distribution companies (DisCos), statistics obtained by Platforms Africa showed.
The statistics from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed furrher that by 9:00 a.m., the grid recorded a partial recovery, supplying 140 MW, distributed as follows: Benin Disco (50 MW), Ibadan Disco (60 MW), and Ikeja Disco (30 MW).
Other DisCos, including Abuja, Kano, and Port Harcourt, remained without supply at that time.
Further efforts to restore the grid saw power generation increase to 220 MW by 10:40 a.m. when this report by Advisors Reports was filed.
The updated distribution among DisCos was:
1. Abuja Disco: 40 MW
2. Benin Disco: 70 MW
3. Eko Disco: 20 MW
4. Ibadan Disco: 60 MW
5. Ikeja Disco: 30 MW
6. Enugu, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt, and
7. Yola DisCos: 0 MW
Checks by Platforms Africa showed that tbis is the third nationwide grid collapse within a week, following incidents on Monday, October 14, at 6:48 p.m., and Tuesday, October 15, around 10:00 a.m.
The repeated failures have raised concerns about the stability of the national grid and the capacity to sustain consistent power supply.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has yet to release an official statement on the cause of these recent disruptions.
Platforms Africa reports that majority of Nigerian manufacturers, industries and other bulk electricity users are akready boycotting the country’s national grid for other alternatives.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who confirmed this trend, has expressed dismay at the decision.
Speaking at the retreat of the board of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company in Lagos on August 22, Adelabu attributed the development to lack of trust and confidence in the power sector.
The minister, however, insisted that the country’s national grid remains a more viable and reliable power source for bulk electricity consumers when compared to other more expensive alternatives.
He also regretted that, despite generating a record 5,155 megawatts in July, the electricity is not being taken up due to distribution constraints.
Platforms Africa
