Why Nigeria’s National Grid Faces Continuous Collapse

Discover why Nigeria’s national grid continues to collapse. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, cites insecurity and delayed repairs of the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line as key reasons.

The Nigerian Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has explained why the country’s national electricity grid remains vulnerable to frequent collapses.

During the 2025 budget defense session with the Senate Joint Committee on Power, held on Monday, the Minister revealed that insecurity in the northern region has hindered the repair of a vital transmission line.

Insecurity Hampers Grid Stability

According to Adelabu, the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, a critical component of Nigeria’s power infrastructure, has been out of service since October 2024 due to vandalism. This incident, he stated, has dealt a severe blow to the country’s power sector and is a significant contributor to the grid’s instability.

“The Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line is one of two major transmission lines delivering electricity to northern Nigeria,” the Minister explained. “While the second line, the Ugwuaji-Makurdi transmission line, has been successfully repaired, the Shiroro line remains out of operation due to persistent security challenges in the region.”

The Grid’s Fragility Explained

Adelabu highlighted that the reliance on a single functioning transmission line in the north places undue strain on the national grid, making it highly fragile and prone to failure.

“This dependency creates a significant risk. Whenever a collapse occurs, we can only focus on swift restoration efforts to minimize the impact,” he added.

The Way Forward

The Minister’s remarks underline the urgent need for improved security measures and investments in power infrastructure to stabilize Nigeria’s electricity grid. Without addressing these issues, frequent grid collapses will likely persist, hampering economic growth and daily life for millions of Nigerians.