Urgent Call for National Grid Overhaul Amid Blackouts

Power sector advocacy group PowerUp Nigeria has urged the federal government to urgently overhaul the national grid due to persistent blackouts that are crippling the economy and forcing manufacturers to rely on off-grid solutions. Executive Director Adetayo Adegbeml stated that Nigeria's electricity crisis has become a significant economic threat, exacerbated by repeated failures of the national grid and weak infrastructure.

The report indicates that the national grid has collapsed at least 222 times from 2010 to 2022, with numerous failures expected in 2024 and 2025. Adegbeml lamented that unreliable electricity compels 60% of manufacturing firms to exit the national grid, opting for captive generation, which increases production costs.

He criticized the recent Electricity Act 2023 for not translating into a reliable national grid and highlighted the need for incentives to encourage industries to reconnect to the grid. Adegbeml warned that without addressing the underlying commercial failures and strengthening transmission infrastructure, Nigeria's electricity industry will continue to face significant challenges.