Electricity crisis: Nigerian government has ‘added no value’ to national grid since military era, expert claims

Engineer Lateef Onikoyi, a former site engineer at Electrica and consultant to the Rivers State Ministry of Power, has criticised the Nigerian government’s handling of the national grid, asserting that no substantial value has been added since the military era.

This comes on the heels of yet another grid collapse, which left many parts of the country without power on Sunday, July 7, 2024.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced on Sunday that the National Grid had been restarted following a sudden power outage. The TCN explained that the outage was likely triggered by the unexpected tripping of three units at a power generating station, which abruptly removed 330 megawatts from the grid. This caused system instability and the loss of bulk supply to a section of the National Grid.

Despite quick restoration efforts, the incident has once again highlighted the fragility of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.

Expert Analysis: Root Causes of Grid Failures

During an interview on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on the ongoing power crisis, monitored by Arbiterz on Monday, Engineer Onikoyi provided insights into the systemic issues plaguing Nigeria’s electricity supply.

“The grid is made up of three components: generation, transmission, and distribution. A collapse in any of these areas can lead to a power outage,” he explained.

Also Read: Electricity revenue dropped in Q1 2024 despite Band A tariff hike – NBS

“A collapse, in terms of electricity, means a reduction in the available energy,” he said, adding that various factors could contribute to such incidents, including generator failures and gas supply issues. However, the root causes are often not disclosed by the authorities.

“In this recent case, it appears to be a generation issue, but the underlying causes can range from gas supply problems to control system failures,” the engineer added.

Transmission Inefficiencies and Historical Neglect

Onikoyi also addressed inefficiencies within the TCN, pointing out that the national transmission network has not seen significant improvements since 1982.

“What efficiency do you want from that type of obsolete network?” he questioned, arguing that the government’s failure to invest adequately in the transmission infrastructure is a major hindrance to progress.

He stressed that the revenue generated from the current 4,000 megawatts is insufficient to fund necessary upgrades, such as the purchase of new transformers.

“Nigeria needs at least 40,000 to 50,000 megawatts just to meet basic needs, excluding industrial demand. Currently, our installed capacity is less than 12,000 megawatts, and only about 4,000 megawatts are available. This is far from sufficient for a population of over 200 million.”

Aging Infrastructure and Efficiency Issues

The expert also criticised the aging infrastructure, pointing out that Egbin, Nigeria’s largest power plant, operates at less than 30 per cent efficiency and is nearly 40 years old.

“The last significant improvement to the national transmission network was made in 1982. Since then, the population and demand have increased exponentially, but the infrastructure has not been upgraded accordingly,” Onikoyi added.

Legislative Efforts and Renewable Energy Initiatives

Despite recent legislative efforts, including the Electricity Acts of 2023 and 2024, which aim to involve state governments in the power sector and promote renewable energy, Onikoyi is skeptical about their immediate impact.

“The law is still new, and its effects are yet to be seen. State governments lack the capacity to make significant changes without substantial support,” he noted.

Challenges and Unrealistic Expectations

The interview also touched on a deal signed in 2019 between the Nigerian government and Siemens AG, which aimed to boost Nigeria’s power generation capacity to 25,000 megawatts over 16 years. However, five years into the deal, there has been little progress.

Also Read: National Grid: 923,768 km² of Total Darkness

“To realistically increase our capacity to 6,000 megawatts in six months, as recently tasked by the president, would require a state of emergency and immediate, substantial funding. The necessary equipment is not readily available off the shelf; it needs to be designed, manufactured, and installed, which takes time,” Onikoyi explained.

Urgent Need for Comprehensive Reforms

The recent grid collapse and Engineer Onikoyi’s stark assessment underscore the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s power sector to ensure a stable and reliable electricity supply for all Nigerians.

Engineer Onikoyi’s insights paint a bleak picture of Nigeria’s power sector. He asserts that successive governments, from the Obasanjo administration to the present, have failed to add value to the national grid.

The lack of substantial investment in generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, coupled with the rising demand for electricity, continues to exacerbate the country’s energy crisis.

For meaningful progress to be made, Onikoyi believes that a comprehensive overhaul of the power sector, backed by significant financial commitments and realistic planning, is essential.

He urged the government to prioritise significant investment in modernising the power infrastructure.

“Without addressing the fundamental issues of obsolete equipment and inadequate generation capacity, Nigeria will continue to face frequent grid collapses and power outages. The government needs to commit to long-term, sustainable solutions rather than short-term fixes,” he stressed.

Subscribe to Notifications