Nigeria’s national power grid experienced another system collapse on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, plunging many parts of the country into darkness and triggering widespread consumer frustration. This latest incident follows a similar line tripping event on January 11, 2025, and marks a continuation of the chronic instability that plagued the grid throughout 2024, with twelve recorded collapses. The outage, which occurred around 11:34 am, saw a drastic drop in power generation from 4064 megawatts to virtually zero within an hour, affecting major power plants across the nation. Egbin, Azura Edo, Geregu, Olorunshogo, Jebba, Omotosho, and Paras Energy, among others, all experienced significant generation losses. Power distribution companies, including Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and Ikeja Disco, confirmed the outage and assured customers of ongoing restoration efforts. While power gradually returned to the grid, reaching around 1800-1900MW by early evening, the incident reignited public concerns about the reliability of Nigeria’s power supply.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) attributed the collapse to the tripping of the Omotosho-Ikeja West 330kV transmission line. This occurred concurrently with a scheduled outage of the Benin-Egbin 330kV line for maintenance, exacerbating the impact of the initial trip and leading to a cascaded outage affecting Lagos, Abuja, and Osogbo. The TCN confirmed the successful restoration of the tripped line and the subsequent return of power to the affected areas. However, this explanation did little to assuage public anger, which stems from years of recurring collapses and the perceived failure of successive governments to address the root causes of the problem.
The timing of this grid collapse is particularly sensitive, given ongoing discussions about potential tariff increases. Consumers are expressing frustration and apprehension, questioning the justification for higher electricity prices in the face of continued instability and unreliable service. Many are skeptical that tariff hikes will translate into tangible improvements in power supply, given the perceived mismanagement and lack of investment in the power sector. Experts and consumer advocates have echoed these concerns, highlighting the limitations of the current grid infrastructure and the need for fundamental reforms. The proposed tariff increase adds another layer of complexity to the already fraught relationship between consumers and the power sector.
Kola Olubiyo, President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network and a member of the Technical Investigative Panel on Power System Collapses, argued that the grid’s current capacity is incapable of handling the projected load, making further collapses inevitable. He pointed to the lack of significant capacity increase despite billions of dollars in foreign loans over the past decade. Olubiyo’s comments underscore a deep-seated skepticism about the effectiveness of current investment strategies and the need for a more transparent and accountable approach to power sector reform. This perspective reflects a broader public sentiment that the government’s handling of the power sector has been inadequate and that fundamental changes are needed to ensure a reliable and affordable electricity supply.
Public reaction to the grid collapse has been swift and critical, with calls for accountability and leadership changes within the power sector. Some are demanding the removal of the current Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the appointment of a technocrat with proven expertise in the field. This sentiment reflects a growing frustration with the perceived lack of technical competence and effective leadership in addressing the power sector’s chronic challenges. Social media platforms have become a forum for expressing outrage and demanding solutions, with users sharing their experiences of the blackout and calling for urgent action from the government. The recurring nature of these collapses has eroded public trust and fueled demands for a more transparent and responsive approach to power sector management.
Looking forward, the latest grid collapse underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s power infrastructure. Experts argue that piecemeal solutions and short-term fixes are insufficient to address the deep-rooted problems plaguing the sector. The debate about tariff increases becomes even more contentious in this context, as consumers question the rationale for paying more for an unreliable service. The government faces a significant challenge in restoring public confidence and delivering on its promises of a stable and affordable power supply. This will require not only significant investment in upgrading the grid but also a renewed commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective leadership within the power sector.
