The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and other relevant agencies to implement recommendations aimed at preventing power grid collapses, following a recent grid disturbance.
According to Mr. Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media, the directive comes after the national grid experienced a disruption on Thursday at approximately 11:29 a.m., caused by a sudden frequency surge from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz.
“All relevant agencies in the ministry must brace up for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the committee,” Tunji quoted the minister as saying.
“The recommendations of the committee are far-reaching and will proffer lasting solutions to the incessant power grid collapses that we have embarrassingly witnessed in the country in the immediate and long term,” the minister added.
The inter-agency committee, established to address recurring grid failures, has proposed several key measures. These include conducting comprehensive audits and testing of existing equipment, improving maintenance protocols for transmission equipment and lines, and securing significant investments from both government and private sector sources.
Additional recommendations focus on developing a reliability-centered maintenance framework and expediting the completion of critical ongoing projects. The committee also emphasized the need to replace aging and obsolete equipment while enhancing telecommunication tools across the power infrastructure.
To strengthen the power sector’s stability, the committee has called for:
Development of frameworks to attract private investment across the value chain, deployment of IT devices on generating units and transmission lines, securing firm gas contracts, implementation of measures to combat vandalism and energy theft.
Tunji confirmed that TCN has assured consumers of their commitment to maintaining uninterrupted power supply.
“The agency is working diligently to implement the committee’s recommendations promptly to prevent future grid collapses in Nigeria,” he said.
