The Federal Government has acknowledged that Nigeria’s national grid remains prone to frequent collapses due to ongoing challenges, including vandalism and insecurity. Speaking in Abuja during a budget defense session before the Senate Committee on Power, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu explained that a critical transmission line in the North remains unrepaired due to security concerns, exacerbating the grid’s vulnerability.
Adelabu highlighted that grid collapses will persist but assured the committee of efforts to reduce their frequency and speed up restoration times. “We are working with security agencies to address vandalism, which is one of the biggest challenges in the power sector,” he said.
To improve power distribution, the government plans to invest ₦36 billion in new transformers across the six geopolitical zones and embark on Phase 1 of upgrading five substations nationwide. However, Adelabu noted that over seven million electricity consumers are still subjected to estimated billing.
The minister cited the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, which has been out of service since October 2024 due to vandalism, as a major source of strain on the grid. “This line was one of two main power lines serving the North. While the Ugwuaji-Makurdi line has been repaired, the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line remains down due to insecurity, leaving the grid fragile and overburdened,” he said.