Though
critics are quick to point to negligence and underperformance on the part of
the Ministry of Power and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) officials, a thorough study has revealed the drastic steps the Tinubu-led administration has been taking to halt the drift through extraordinary innovations and investments in new infrastructure and system improvements
.
Stories by Ejike Emmanuel and Ambrose Isele reporting from Abuja and Lagos.
Grid collapse are often greeted with uproar and especially these days as the heat closes in on already depressed Nigerians; when that happens and this is the first in this year 2026, as reported, the resultant action by aggrieved Nigerians is not to study why this is so; instead, the tendency is to haul insults at whoever is in charge and some go as far as calling for their head! If the truth be told, no nation will tolerate disruptions of such magnitude, and that is exactly why Nigerians are frustrated against the backdrop of other developing nations!
But a group of professionals under the aegis of League of Patriotic Nigerians(LPN) has risen stoutly to the defence of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Power officials. In a statement issued and cited by our reporters in Abuja, the group, through its president, Alhaji Rilwanu Yakubu Isah, has faulted the alarm raised by the opposition, especially blaming the failure of leadership for the menace.
The president instead heaped praise on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration as inspiring and on the brink of successfully reviving the power sector. “We have taken a critical look at what the administration is doing through the ministry of power and transmission company officials, and we are really impressed”, he declared.
Speaking further, Alhaji Isah disclosed that his group undertook a month-long discreet study of the entire Ministry of Power and Transmission Company outlays in the regions and were startled at the extent of programmes being implemented. “For the first time, we are seeing real-time activities, massive developments and new infrastructures being installed; we saw new transmission lines and substations being constructed, including transformers being installed”, he revealed.
Isah remarked that what his group saw was not only impressive but a testament to the outstanding performance of the Tinubu –led administration. “This is not about politics; it is a serious and sensitive issue, and we are confident that if what we saw continues at this rate, these disturbances will be a thing of the past”, he announced.
Alhaji Isah faulted the opposition for screaming blue murder whenever such seizures occur, adding that those responsible and in charge are up to the task! “Newspapers, the Radio and social media are often awash with blame and counterblame,” he says, suggesting that their contributions in analysing the factors responsible and helping the government navigate the thorny waters would have been the preferred way forward. “Nobody would deliberately sabotage government operations; this is a fact; unless someone is up to mischief before such can be possible”, Isah stated, wondering why anyone would want to do that.
The president then went on to outline the efforts of the Federal Government through the Ministry of Power and the Leadership of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN in tackling the malaise.
The first is the unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria to create the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) for the management of the National Grid under the Electricity Act of 2023. “NISO is designed to bring neutrality, transparency, and efficiency to the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry(NESI) by separating System operation from Infrastructure development,” Isah explains.
By this powerful strike, the TCN is automatically divorced from anything “grid management”. This is an action the Federal Government has taken to curb the troublesome menace! NISO’s job involves real-time generation dispatch, frequency controls, and voltage stability to minimize grid collapse in a safe, secure, and efficient manner! “How many Nigerians know that TCN is no longer responsible for managing grid collapse, for example? He queried, insisting this is down to poor communications.
Other strategic steps undertaken by the Federal Government include Investment in Infrastructure, that is upgrading the existing power infrastructure to reduce outages, encouraging Public-Private Partnerships(PPPs) to leverage expertise and funding, Improvement in Regulatory Reforms such as creating incentives for private sector participation in the sector, investing in Renewable Energy by diversifying into Solar and Wind Power promotions to alleviate pressure in the national grid.
Capacity building and Training, Emergency Response Plans Collaboration with International Bodies to gain expertise and financial Aid, embarking on a new Legislative framework to allow clearer for investments reforms, improved monitoring and Supervision to nip teething problems in the bud, and not least the rollout of smart meters to allow better management of the power supply chain.
“These efforts reflect the government’s
commitment to tackling the persistent challenges associated with the national
grid and improving the overall reliability of electricity supply in Nigeria”,
Alhaji Isah openly admitted. He also reminded Nigerians that the
activities of GENCOS and DISCOS are being re-evaluated, and a position paper
would soon be released on their performance.
He therefore called
for support and understanding instead of resorting to the blame game pattern. “We
are all involved; officials of the Ministry of Power and the TCN are on top of
this game; creating awareness and passing more information on what the
government is doing is the key to overcoming these issues,” he stated, urging
Nigerians not to be misled by misinformation and mischief makers
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