The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has blamed an explosion at the Jebba transmission station in Niger state for the grid collapse that put Nigerians in blackout on Saturday.

Disclosing this in a statement, NERC stated that power has been restored in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but expressed dissatisfaction with the incessant blackouts after recording three grid collapses in less than a month.

It read, “The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission notes with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outage in several states thus reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability.”

“Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today’s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and associated cascade of power plants shutdown arising from the loss of load. However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.”

According to NERC, the system operator function (ISO) is currently being unbundled out of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), for an independent SO for better performance, adding that a public hearing targeted at addressing the incessant grid collapses will soon be held.

“In line with the provisions of the Electricity Act 2023, the unbundling of the System Operator function (ISO) out of Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc is ongoing with the expectation that an independent SO would engender more discipline in grid management and optimised investment in infrastructure.”

“In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing with a view to identifying immediate and remote causes of recurring incidence of grid disturbances and widespread outages.” 

Stating that the date and venue for the public hearing will soon be announced in national dailies, the electricity regulator encouraged stakeholders to participate.