By Ken Chiwendu
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, says the Federal Government is considering alternative electricity sources as panacea for the frequent Grid collapse.
The National Grid is Nigeria’s Electricity System having 32 substations and connected to other neighbouring countries.
A report by the National Bureau of Statistics NBS indicates that only 58% of Nigerian households are connected to the grid.
The grid has collapsed more than four times in 2024 and the blame ranges from issues such as vandalism to insufficient natural gas.
However, the government is considering alternative power sources to serve as backups in the event of further collapse of the Grid.
The Minister made this known during a stakeholders meeting with the management of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) held at its headquarters in Kano.
He said the federal government is determined to boost electricity supply with a view to reviving industrial revolution and enhancing the nations economy.
Adelabu added that his mission is to engage with critical stakeholders to identify and tackle obstacles hindering optimal performance emphasizing the need to revamp the transmission architecture which currently relies heavily on Shiroro and Jos channels.
To mitigate this, Adelabu advocated for establishing independent power sources within state metropolises to support the national grid explaining that exploring alternative power sources to serve as backups to the National Grid has become necessary with a view to curtail future occurrences of collapse of the National Grid.
“This proactive approach aims to ensure that the region is prepared for any eventuality, including vandalism or national grid collapse.”
“State Governments should ensure effective implementation of providing alternative electricity sources and Discos should also ensure reliable distribution services while consumers should utilize electricity efficiently.” Adelabu said
