Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, attributed the recent wave of power outages across 17 northern states to vandalism on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, one of the primary electricity channels to the region.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, Adelabu explained that the power interruptions have put considerable strain on local economies and households, but he reassured the public that efforts to restore service are underway.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has mobilized to repair the damage, supported by enhanced security measures promised by the National Security Advisor and the Chief of Air Staff.
Authorities are optimistic that full restoration will be achieved soon.
To mitigate future power disruptions and reduce reliance on the vulnerable national grid, Adelabu announced a significant shift towards alternative energy sources, unveiling a new solar power initiative specifically designed for the northern states.
The plan involves developing embedded solar-powered utilities with an initial capacity of 50 megawatts per state, scalable to 100 megawatts over time.
“With this approach, each state in the northern region will have access to a localized power supply, leveraging the abundant sunlight available, especially in the north,” Adelabu stated.
He emphasized that the initiative aims to stabilize the grid by providing each state with an independent source of power, thus decentralizing the energy supply and enhancing resilience.
In addition to these regional initiatives, the government is focusing on broader national power infrastructure challenges.
Adelabu addressed recent national grid failures, noting that Nigeria’s transmission network, with infrastructure over 50 years old, is increasingly prone to technical issues.
“Some of our substations, transformers, and transmission lines are far past their service life,” he said.
To address this, the Ministry of Power is pursuing the development of a “super grid” backup. This secondary grid would act as a failover option, maintaining power transmission even if the main grid experiences issues.
“Creating a super grid and state-level grids would ensure that disruptions in one area won’t impact others, reducing the likelihood of nationwide blackouts,” Adelabu explained.
In response to the public outcry over billing during outages, Adelabu confirmed that the Ministry is in talks with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power distribution companies to exempt affected customers from billing during periods of prolonged outages.
This measure is particularly aimed at customers on premium brands, including industrial consumers, who have been severely affected by the disruptions.
Regarding immediate solutions for the northern grid, Adelabu highlighted that repairs on the Shiroro-Kaduna line remain a top priority. However, he stressed that sustained security is essential for the repair crews working in areas prone to vandalism.
“The government has committed to protecting personnel on the ground so repairs can proceed without interruption,” he said.
Adelabu also urged the public to support efforts to protect national power infrastructure, stressing that maintaining stable electricity is critical to the nation’s economic growth and social welfare.
This proactive, multi-pronged approach signifies the government’s commitment to stabilizing the nation’s power supply and moving towards a future with a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.
The planned solar expansion, regional grid improvements, and national super grid development are all steps aimed at ensuring more reliable power for Nigeria’s northern states and beyond.
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