‘Until necessary funds are provided!’ FG Reveals Why Power Grid Failures Persist

The Nigerian national electricity grid has faced multiple collapses, with the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, attributing the recurring failures to insecurity and outdated infrastructure.

OwelekeTV reports a recent collapse of the national electricity grid on Friday, January 11, 2025.

During a 2025 budget defense session with the National Assembly’s Joint Committee on Power, Adelabu revealed that the government’s inability to repair the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line has left the grid vulnerable. This line, he explained, is one of the two major power supply routes to northern Nigeria.

“As I’m talking to you, we have not rectified the major line, which is the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line. This is why our grid is so fragile. It’s only one line that is supplying power to the north, and it’s being burdened unnecessarily. Insecurity has hindered repairs, and the issue remains with the security agencies,” Adelabu said.

The vulnerability of the grid was highlighted in October 2024, when the Shiroro-Kaduna line was vandalized, plunging northern Nigeria into darkness. The minister said such incidents have placed excessive pressure on the sole functioning power line in the region, making the grid prone to failures.

Out of the eight grid collapses recorded in 2024, Adelabu clarified that five were complete failures, while three were partial, stemming from generation imbalances. “Three collapses were due to insufficient generation relative to demand, while two were caused by vandalism,” he noted.

The Ugwuaji-Makurdi line, another critical power route, was also vandalized but has since been restored. The Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line, however, remains out of service due to security concerns.

Adelabu acknowledged the aging grid infrastructure, saying,

“We inherited a grid that is very old and dilapidated. The government is working to reduce the frequency of collapses and ensure rapid restoration when failures occur.”

Exclusive power sector analyst and experts explained the dynamics of the national grid:

“The national grid is the interconnection of high transmission wires/cables across the country. Grid frequency measures the demand and supply of electricity dispatch to consumers from the Gencos.

Frequency meters are measured in hertz (Hz). Based on the grid code, our normal frequency level is supposed to be 50Hz.

“If the current power generation is 4000MWh and people are using all the 4000MWh, then supply is equal to demand, and frequency should be 50Hz. This is a perfect condition that is highly unlikely.

If we are generating 4000MWh and people are using 3700MWh, then obviously supply is higher than demand, and for that reason, the frequency will show you 51Hz.

If we are generating 4000MWh and people are trying to use 4200MWh, demand is higher than supply, and for that reason, the frequency will show 49Hz.

I know you will ask me how you can be generating 4000MWh and be trying to use 4200MWh. Take, for instance, you’re using an ‘I-pass-my-neighbour’ generator, and you’re trying to connect a 2HP A.C. with a microwave on the generator.

The generator will just automatically shut down. That’s how it happens, too, on the national grid. The Nigerian national grid is set to operate on a designated frequency level:
Upper limit = 51.25Hz
Lower limit = 48.75Hz

A grid collapse is not like something catastrophic. The 26 grid-connected generators will automatically shut down because of safety and security reasons.

In your houses, if you have a serious electrical fault, the circuit breaker will trip off to shut down the entire supply and protect everyone from potential injury or damages.”

Adelabu reiterated the government’s focus on quick restoration following collapses, while working to mitigate vandalism and insecurity, which he described as major challenges in stabilizing Nigeria’s power grid.