The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has announced it will hold a public hearing on Thursday, October 24, in Abuja to address the frequent national grid failures that have led to widespread electricity disruptions across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, NERC expressed concern over the rising number of grid disturbances, which have caused major power outages. The commission noted that these failures have reversed recent progress in improving Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and grid stability.
The hearing, which is open to stakeholders and the public, is in line with the Electricity Act 2023, which mandates public discussions on critical issues in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
NERC highlighted that the country’s national grid has failed three times in the past week, adding to a total of eight collapses in 2024. The most recent blackouts occurred on October 14, 15, and 19, affecting power supply nationwide. Earlier incidents were recorded in February, March, April, July, and August.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, attributed the frequent grid collapses to outdated infrastructure. He stressed the need for more investment in the sector to prevent future failures and called for a decentralisation of the power grid to prevent localised failures from affecting the entire country.
The public hearing will take place at the NERC headquarters in Abuja at 10 a.m.