Earlier today, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) experienced its first power outage in 2024, which prevented the country’s distribution of electricity by the electricity distribution companies (DisCos).
The Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) management announced to its consumers that a statewide power outage resulted from a system meltdown that happened “at 11:21 hours today, February 4, 2024.”
This comes after the country’s electricity supply fell in several areas due to gas supply restrictions for electricity producing enterprises. At least three national blackouts affected Nigerians in 2023 on September 14, 19, and December 11.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with the government over the difficulties facing the nation’s electricity industry just two days prior.
Adelabu made this statement while voicing concerns about the nation’s inadequate electricity supply, which is a result of a number of problems, including unpaid subsidy payments.
He argued that in the event that the federal government is unable to cover market-owed subsidies, Nigeria need to transition to a fully cost-reflective tariff regime.
Adelabu added that under-capacity utilization of less than 25% was currently occurring in the National Independent Power Plants (NIPPs) under the management and operation of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Plc (NDPHC) as a result of consistent gas supply.