Nigeria's national grid has collapsed again, causing widespread blackouts across the country. This marks the second time in three days and the twelfth time in 2024 that the grid has failed. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the incident and is working to restore power.
The initial collapse occurred on Sunday, February 4, 2024, due to a system failure by the power distribution companies, leading to blackouts in many regions. Further collapses occurred on March 28 and April 15, with the TCN attributing the April collapse to frequency imbalances.
More recently, the nation has experienced a series of grid collapses: October 14, October 15 (partial), October 22, November 5 (partial), and November. The Minister of Power has cited vandalism and equipment theft as causes of the frequent grid collapses.
The blackouts disrupt essential services, including healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation. Hospitals are particularly vulnerable, as blackouts can compromise patient care and increase the risk of medical errors. The University College Hospital in Ibadan has been without power for over 100 days due to a debt to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company. Patients' relatives have reportedly brought their own generators to the hospital.
The instability of the national grid has far-reaching economic consequences, reducing output in manufacturing and services and raising household expenses. Businesses are forced to invest in alternative power sources, increasing their operational costs.