FG Orders Immediate Replacement of Aged Equipment to End Grid Collapses

The Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has directed the immediate replacement of outdated equipment in the national power grid, as part of measures to curb the frequent collapses of the grid.

The decision follows recommendations made by an inter-agency committee tasked with addressing the ongoing power sector challenges.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Strategic Communications and Media, Bolaji Tunji, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and other relevant agencies are to urgently implement the committee’s recommendations.

The announcement comes in the wake of a disturbance in the national grid on Thursday at approximately 11:29 am, reportedly caused by a sudden rise in frequency. This marks the latest in a series of disruptions that have plagued the country’s power supply.

Some of the committee’s recommendations include the auditing and testing of current equipment, improvements in maintenance practices, and the replacement of aged and obsolete infrastructure. Also, the committee called for the enhancement of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems and telecommunication tools.

The committee further urged the development of a framework to attract private sector investment across the power value chain, the deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) devices on generating units and transmission lines, and securing firm gas contracts to ensure a stable power supply. A key recommendation is also the creation of measures to combat vandalism and energy theft, which continue to undermine the stability of the power grid.