The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced the successful restoration of the national power grid, following its collapse at 4:28 pm on Thursday. In a statement released on Friday, TCN reported that the grid achieved full recovery by 10 pm on the same day.
However, the Eko Electricity Distribution Company disclosed on Friday that it was able to receive minimal power supply from the grid, enabling it to restore power to areas including Agbara, Ojo, Akangba, Ajah, Lekki, and Alagbon Transmission Stations.
TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, stated, “We remain optimistic that power supply will be restored to optimal normalcy soon, as the grid restoration continues. We will keep you updated.”
Mbah explained that a report from the National Control Centre in Osogbo revealed that the system disturbance was triggered by a significant reduction in generation capacity, mainly due to gas constraints. This reduction led to a rapid decline in system frequency, causing a sudden imbalance in the grid.
She added, “The imbalance in grid stability was exacerbated by the sudden tripping of Egbin generation Turbine 3, resulting in an additional loss of 167MW load and the subsequent collapse of the grid.”
“TCN emphasizes its unwavering commitment to addressing grid challenges and actively working to mitigate disruptions. In instances where challenges extend beyond TCN’s control, the company collaborates with other stakeholders in the power sector value chain to minimize the impact and swiftly restore the grid to normal operation.”
It was reported that major cities, including Lagos and Abuja, experienced power outages following the collapse of the national grid. According to the International Energy Agency, Nigeria’s national power grid collapsed 46 times from 2017 to 2023, with increased nationwide blackouts in 2023, particularly on September 14, due to a fire on a major transmission line.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, assured Nigerians that current power problems would be resolved within the next three to six months. He noted that gas suppliers, who have withheld supplies to power generating companies due to unpaid debts, would commence receiving payments from April.
