Federal Government Warns: Power Grid Collapse Inevitable Without Major Investments
Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, has emphasized the need for establishing multiple power grids across different regions and states in Nigeria to address the persistent issue of grid collapses.
Speaking at the unveiling of Hexing Livoltek, an electricity meter manufacturing company in Lekki, Lagos, he noted that the current state of the country’s power infrastructure makes grid collapses almost unavoidable as he argued that regional power grids would enhance stability and resilience within the power sector.
He explained that the decentralization of the power sector, facilitated by the Electricity Act signed by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, allows subnational governments to participate in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
Furthermore, the minister highlighted that without significant investment in the sector, such occurrences are likely to continue as he pointed out that the infrastructure is in a deplorable state, which contributes to frequent disruptions.
Although he noted that there had been no grid collapse in the previous four months, a partial collapse recently occurred, demonstrating the fragility of the system and the urgent need for upgrades.
Adelabu praised Hexing Livoltek for its investment in Nigeria, marking it as a significant milestone for the electricity sector. He expressed that the launch of the meter factory not only prioritizes local content and job creation but also reduces the country’s dependence on imports. Meanwhile, Robert Liang, CEO of Hexing Group, expressed optimism about the company’s expansion in Nigeria, viewing it as a commitment to advancing clean energy in the nation.