The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has attributed frequent grid collapses to vandalism and lack of maintenance in the past.
Adelabu stressed that most 2024 incidents resulted from vandalism and theft of power equipment while receiving the report of the committee set up to address grid collapses in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said a lack of good maintenance and external factors also contributed to the collapses.
“The federal government is taking the issue seriously, requiring urgent attention,” he said.
Adelabu assured that the ministry would review the report, make amendments, and submit it to President Bola Tinubu.
The six-member committee, chaired by Nafisat Ali, executive director of the Independent System Operator (ISO), identified specific causes for recent collapses.
Ms Ali said the causes for the recent collapse included the shattering of lightning arrestors in Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations on October 14, and the explosion of a CT at Jebba Station, on October 19.
She said that the committee recommended reviewing relaying philosophy and settings within one month, enhancing capacity development for Maintenance and System Operator staff, and testing existing equipment at critical nodes.
Ms. Ali said the committee emphasized that recommendations with financial implications would be included in the 2025 budget or addressed through a supplementary budget.
She added that the committee commended colleagues and stakeholders for swift responses to grid collapses, ensuring no collapse lasted over 24 hours.
