The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has provided insights into the cause of the national grid’s 11th collapse in 2024, which occurred shortly after a similar event earlier in the week. According to Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Thursday’s grid failure was triggered by a sudden rise in frequency.
Mrs. Mbah explained that the disturbance happened around 11:29 AM when the frequency spiked from 50.33Hz to 51.44Hz. This was traced to a malfunction at one of TCN’s substations, which had to be taken offline to prevent further complications. Immediate recovery efforts were initiated, with power in the Abuja area restored within minutes, while work to stabilize other areas continues.
Mrs. Mbah noted that TCN is currently conducting major repair work on critical infrastructure, including the 330kV transmission line on the Shiroro–Mando axis, extensive upgrades at the Jebba Transmission Substation, and the restoration of the second Ugwuaji–Apir 330kV line. Following recent investigations into past grid collapses, TCN is also addressing systemic weaknesses identified in the report.
TCN warned that the grid may experience some ongoing instability as repairs progress. However, the company reassured the public of its commitment to improving the reliability and resilience of Nigeria’s electricity supply. Mrs. Mbah emphasized the importance of these upgrades for stabilizing power in Nigeria, urging patience from the public as TCN works to address both technical and security challenges, including vandalism of transmission lines.
