The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has established a forensic investigative committee to address the frequent grid collapses that have left parts of Nigeria in darkness.
According to a statement by the minister’s media aide, Bolaji Tunji, the decision follows two significant grid disturbances within the past week, prompting an emergency meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Adelabu expressed concern over these incidents, fearing they could undermine the progress made in the power sector, which recently achieved a record generation of 5,527 megawatts — the highest in three years.
The committee’s role will be to thoroughly investigate the cause of these grid failures, including any potential sabotage, and to recommend solutions to improve grid stability.
The committee will assess the technical and investment needs required to make the national grid smart and resilient.
Adelabu clarified that what occurred on October 14 was a partial collapse due to a line tripping at the Jebba Transmission Substation, followed by a fault at the Osogbo Substation.
Further efforts to restore power faced a setback the following day, but the team fully restored the system by October 16.
He explained that the incident on October 19 was a deliberate protective shutdown due to a transformer explosion at Jebba and was unrelated to the initial collapse.
The six-member committee includes key figures from NERC, TCN, and the Ministry of Power, and is expected to submit its findings by November 1, 2024.
CREDIT: Allneeds, PUNCH
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