Nigeria has experienced its ninth national grid collapse of the year on Tuesday, November 5, plunging the country into another nationwide blackout.
The grid failure was confirmed by multiple electricity distribution companies, with data from the Nigerian System Operator’s portal showing the grid had recorded zero megawatts (MW) at 2:09 p.m.
According to Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC), the system outage began at 1:52 p.m., disrupting power supply across its network.
“Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today, 05 November 2024, at 13:52Hrs affecting supply within our network,” IKEDC announced, adding that efforts to restore power were underway in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
“Kindly bear with us,” the company stated.
Similarly, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) confirmed that the collapse impacted all feeders within its coverage area.
“The current outage being experienced within our franchise States is a result of loss of power supply from the national grid,” said Friday Adakole, head of corporate communications at JEDC.
He reassured customers that power would be restored as soon as grid stability was achieved.
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) also acknowledged the development, assuring customers that they were coordinating with key stakeholders for a prompt resolution.
“Rest assured, we are working with the relevant stakeholders to restore power as soon as the grid is stabilized,” AEDC stated.
This latest collapse marks the ninth such incident this year. The first occurred on February 4, followed by further failures on March 28, April 15, July 6, August 5, and three blackouts in October alone—on the 14th, 15th, and 19th.
Adebayo Adelabu, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, recently acknowledged that the frequent collapses are largely due to the country’s aging power infrastructure.
In a statement on October 17, Adelabu remarked that until the system undergoes a complete overhaul, grid instability would likely persist.
The minister highlighted the need for significant investment in power infrastructure as essential to preventing future outages and ensuring reliable electricity for Nigerians.
Chioma Kalu
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