- Second national grid collapse in two days, left millions without power
- Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the outage, and assured restoration is in progress
- Nigeria National Grid explained load shedding and insufficient infrastructure contribute to regular blackouts
The national grid in Nigeria has collapsed for the second time in just two days, marking the eleventh such failure in 2024 and resulting in widespread blackouts across the country.
Several electricity distribution companies also confirmed the power failure, posting updates on their social media platforms and alerting customers to ongoing disruptions in service.
EKEDC confirms power outage, restoration efforts underway
“Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today 07 November 2024 at 11:29Hrs affecting supply within our network,” the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) stated on its X account, formally Twitter.
“Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders.
Kindly bear with us.”
According to data from the Nigerian System Operator's portal (niggrid.org), power generation dropped to zero megawatts at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, leaving all 22 power generation companies offline.
This latest collapse comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with frequent grid instability, leaving millions without power for extended periods.
National grid operators acknowledge public concerns over irregular supply
The Nigerian National Grid has responded to public concerns regarding the irregular power supply, acknowledging that both regular and irregular outages have been observed across the country.
In a statement posted on its X account, the National Grid clarified that the nation’s generation, transmission, and distribution capacities are currently insufficient to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
The grid operator also explained the concept of load shedding, which many Nigerians have been experiencing as a form of supply rotation.
Even when the National Grid remains stable, load shedding is still necessary to manage demand and balance available supply.
National grid operators advise consumers on delayed restoration
“Our Generation, transmission and distribution capacities are nowhere near enough for you to expect uninterrupted power.
“We have explained the concept of load shedding which you experience as a type of supply rotation.
“If the National Grid is stable, you still have to make room for load shedding,” the statement read.
Additionally, the Nigeria National Grid noted that if power restoration is taking longer than usual in some areas, consumers are advised to contact their respective Distribution Companies (DisCos) for further clarification and updates on the situation.
The statement came amid continued frustration over frequent power disruptions across the country.
Incessant collapse of Nigeria’s national grid: Experts explain why it keeps happening
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that many Nigerians are familiar with the term ‘national grid’ due to its incessant collapse, which has become regular news in Nigeria.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 140 million people in Nigeria lack access to electricity, constituting 71 per cent of the country’s population.