WHY NIGERIA’S NATIONAL GRID KEEPS COLLAPSING – Power Expert

By Michael Dada

Nigeria’s national grid has experienced multiple collapses over the years, causing nationwide blackouts.

In 2024 alone, the grid reportedly collapsed about twelve (12) times. At a public hearing organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to address recurring grid failures, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), Dr. Joy Ogaji, disclosed that from 2013 to October 2024, the national grid had collapsed 162 times. Barely two weeks into the new year, on January 11, 2025, the grid recorded its first collapse of the year.

But why does this keep happening? A professor of engineering and power expert, Engr. Stephen Ogaji explained that the issue is about balancing electricity generation and distribution. Prof. Ogaji spoke at a hybrid workshop organized by the APGC, an alliance of thirty-two (32) registered power generation companies in Nigeria.

The Balancing Act of Power Supply

He explained that Nigeria’s national grid is designed to operate at a stable frequency of 50 Hertz (Hz) to maintain balance. This means that the electricity produced by power plants must match the amount distributed by electricity distribution companies and used by consumers at any given time. If this balance is not maintained, the grid becomes unstable and may collapse.

‘Excessive’ Power Generation

According to Prof. Ogaji, if power plants generate more electricity than distribution companies can take and supply to electricity consumers, the grid frequency can rise above 50Hz. When this happens, the National Control Center (NCC), which manages the national grid, instructs power plants to ramp down their operations to prevent instability. This instruction compels power plants to operate below their available capacity and reduce their output to the grid.

‘Excessive’ Power Consumption

On the other hand, if electricity demand exceeds what power plants are generating, the frequency drops below 50Hz. If the drop is too significant, some power stations may automatically disconnect from the national grid and switch to island mode as a safety precaution to protect their turbines.

An example is the 191-megawatt Ibom Power Plant, which reportedly operated in island mode and supplied power solely to Akwa Ibom State during most of the national grid collapses last year. When too many power stations disconnect from the national grid sporadically, the entire system collapses.

Why This Problem Persists

Prof. Ogaji further explained that one major reason Nigeria’s grid continues to collapse is that it still relies on a manual control system. Operators at the National Control Center (NCC) often have to make phone calls to power plant operators to adjust their output, which can cause delays and errors. He suggested switching to a more advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, stating that SCADA would allow automatic, real-time adjustments of power generation and consumption on the national grid. This, he said, would minimize human errors and underreporting by power plant operators.

Another solution proffered by Prof. Ogaji is the establishment of a spinning reserve—a backup power supply that can quickly step in when the grid becomes unstable. This reserve would consist of power plants on standby, ready to inject electricity into the grid to restore balance. However, he mentioned that this is a paid service, and the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) has yet to fully implement it as an incentive for power-generating stations willing to offer such services.

The Way Forward

As a long-term solution to frequent grid collapses, Prof. Ogaji emphasized the need for Nigeria to modernize its grid management system by implementing SCADA technology and investing in a reliable and well-incentivized spinning reserve. Without these changes, the country will continue to experience frequent and unpredictable power outages, adversely affecting businesses and everyday life.