The nationwide blackout experienced on Thursday in Nigeria was attributed to a fire incident and an explosion on the Kainji/Jebba 330kV line 2, according to the Federal Government. This event resulted in a total collapse of the country’s electricity grid, causing a massive loss of power supply to consumers.
Many power consumers expressed frustration with the continuous challenges in the power sector, despite the privatization of the generation and distribution arms of the sector in 2013. The blackout affected several states, including Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria had recently celebrated 400 days of power grid stability, claiming that there were no collapses during that period. However, the recent incident highlights the need to address the root causes of grid instability and collapse in Nigeria’s power sector.
Consumers and experts in the sector emphasize the importance of tackling the fundamental issues that lead to system collapses, distortions, and instability for a sustainable and reliable power supply in the country.