The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has dismissed claims circulating in the media that the national grid collapsed on Saturday, maintaining that the grid remained stable and operational throughout the day.
In a statement, TCN spokesman Ndidi Mbah clarified that the power disruptions experienced in parts of the country, particularly affecting Lagos, were caused by the tripping of two key transmission lines: Osogbo-Ihovbor and Benin-Omotosho.
“Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, hereby states that the nation’s grid did not experience any collapse today, contrary to the widely published misinformation in the media,” Mbah stated.
The disruptions occurred around 1:41 PM, leading to a temporary drop in power generation from 4,335.63 MW to 2,573.23 MW. This reduction, Mbah emphasized, did not constitute a grid collapse but was instead the result of localized transmission line failures.
The affected lines caused outages at several power plants, including Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Geregu, and Paras. According to TCN, most of these plants have since been restored, except for the Benin-Omotosho 330kV line, where restoration efforts are ongoing.
“As TCN continues to work hard to put in place a robust transmission grid, it is imperative that we understand the negative impact of deliberately misinforming the public and the value of disseminating true and verifiable facts,” the statement added.
Nigeria’s power sector has been plagued by frequent grid collapses, with over 10 incidents reported in 2024 alone. Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu has attributed the recurring collapses to outdated infrastructure and emphasized the need for urgent upgrades to stabilize the system.
Saturday’s clarification by TCN underscores the challenges facing the country’s energy sector, where misinformation often compounds the already fraught relationship between service providers and the public.
