Nationwide Blackout: Nigeria’s Grid Collapses for 12th Time in 2024

Nigeria experienced its 12th national grid collapse of the year on Wednesday, leaving several major cities in darkness. The frequent blackouts have set a grim record for 2024, underscoring ongoing challenges in the country’s electricity supply.

In a brief statement, the National Grid acknowledged the incident but offered limited details, saying: “Major Grid Set Back has occurred! Restoration to commence.”

This latest collapse highlights the continued strain on Nigeria’s power infrastructure, despite recent government pledges to improve electricity supply. In November, President Bola Tinubu’s administration announced an ambitious goal to provide at least 20 hours of daily electricity to urban and industrial areas by 2027.

According to Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, achieving this target hinges on increased investment in the oil and gas sector. Speaking at Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, Verheijen emphasized the government’s commitment to improving power reliability.

The statement, released by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information and Publicity at the State House, outlined the administration’s roadmap to addressing energy challenges, but the repeated grid failures suggest significant obstacles remain.