The House of Representatives is to investigate the recurring national giid collapse in the country.
This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance by a member from Kano state, Mr Sani Bala, at plenary.
The lawmaker stated that since the 2013 privatization exercise in the power sector, the country has witnessed over a hundred national grid collapses.
Mr Bala expressed concern that the national grid collapsed seven times in 2022 alone, with enormous socio-economic implications.
In the motion read, Bala said “Aware that national grid collapses occur when there are system disturbances along the transmission lines connecting a number of generating stations;
“Concerned that since 2013 when the privatisation exercise took place in the power sector, the country has witnessed over a hundred national grid collapses; a challenge which experts and operators said would linger for a long time if not addressed.
Bala noted in his motion that “it is incomprehensible that all the key power plants in the country, including Egbin, Utorogu, Chevron Oredo, Oben gas-fired power plants, Ughelli, and Chevron Escravos power plants could all shut down at once; also worried that the issue of system collapse may not be unconnected with the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s lack of wheeling capacity, inadequate transmission lines and spinning reserves as well as refusal to fast-track construction of digital control centres instead of the Company’ current analog system.
He said that “available statistics from research show that if the power generated is adequately wheeled and transmitted for distribution to consumers, there will be a 30% reduction in the cost of generating power thus leading to a corresponding reduction in the prices of utilities in the electricity supply industry, forestall future occurrences and protect already fragile socio-economic environment”.
Adequate investigation
In his contribution to the motion, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, said that the Nigerian power sector has been more of motion but no movement.
He said that Nigeria needs to do more findings about how to prevent power failure in the country.
“It is unfortunate and really sad that for close to ten years now we have not been able to overcome this challenge” Hon Okechukwu said.
He advised parliament to take the investigation into the grid collapse seriously as it might be one of the legacies the ninth assembly might leave behind.
The House of Representatives thereby mandated it’s committee on power to investigate the frequent collapse of the nation’s power grid with a view to finding a lasting solution.
Emmanuel Ukoh
