FG panel cites poor maintenance and aging equipment as main drivers of grid collapses

The Federal Government has identified poor maintenance practices and outdated equipment as primary reasons for the frequent national grid collapses, which have recently disrupted power supply multiple times. According to the panel’s findings, high voltage levels exceeding equipment capacity led to blackouts on October 14 and 19, 2024.

Nafisatu Asabe Ali, head of the government’s investigative committee, shared these findings at a report presentation in Abuja. She highlighted that issues like shattered lightning arrestors and equipment explosions at Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations contributed to the outages. Specifically, she noted that a broken lightning arrestor and the absence of a second shunt reactor at Jebba led to high-voltage exposure, which damaged insulation over time. She added that Jebba’s equipment, dating back to 1968, exemplifies the pressing need for upgrades.

The Federal Government has identified poor maintenance practices and outdated equipment as primary reasons for the frequent national grid collapses, which have recently disrupted power supply multiple times. According to the panel’s findings, high voltage levels exceeding equipment capacity led to blackouts on October 14 and 19, 2024.

Nafisatu Asabe Ali, head of the government’s investigative committee, shared these findings at a report presentation in Abuja. She highlighted that issues like shattered lightning arrestors and equipment explosions at Jebba and Oshogbo transmission stations contributed to the outages. Specifically, she noted that a broken lightning arrestor and the absence of a second shunt reactor at Jebba led to high-voltage exposure, which damaged insulation over time. She added that Jebba’s equipment, dating back to 1968, exemplifies the pressing need for upgrades.