Despite notable gains in power generation, Nigeria’s national grid continues to underperform, raising concerns about energy reliability across the country. In 2024 alone, the grid experienced no fewer than 12 collapses, plunging major urban centers including Abuja, Lagos, and Kano into repeated blackouts.
Speaking at the ministerial conference, Minister Adelabu proposed the regionalisation of the grid as a strategic response to prevent total system failures and enhance resilience.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) cited ageing infrastructure, vandalism, and inconsistent gas supply to thermal plants as primary causes of the recurring collapses. The minister also pointed to Nigeria’s overreliance on imported power equipment, which continues to strain the country’s foreign exchange reserves and delay maintenance and upgrades.
As confidence in the national grid declines, both households and businesses have increasingly turned to off-grid power solutions. According to recent estimates, petrol and diesel generators now produce approximately 40,000 megawatts — more than eight times the capacity currently delivered by the national grid.
In response, several Nigerian states are actively exploring independent power markets and mini-grid systems to reduce dependence on central infrastructure and improve localized power reliability.
“Until the national grid becomes truly reliable, Nigerians — both businesses and individuals — will continue to seek alternative solutions. Our task is to reverse that trend by fixing the fundamentals,” Adelabu concluded.
