Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and the continent’s largest oil producer, is grappling with a severe energy crisis that is plunging millions into darkness and fueling widespread discontent.
The combination of frequent blackouts and acute petrol shortages has wreaked havoc on the daily life and economic activities of Nigerians and residents.
For years, Nigerians have been accustomed to sporadic electricity supply, but the current situation is among the worst in recent memory. Nigeria has recorded six cases of national grid collapse in the first seven months of 2024.
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On Saturday, July 6, residents endured prolonged blackouts which lasted for hours. Businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises that rely heavily on stable electricity, are struggling to stay afloat.
“UP NEPA is a 50-year-old problem. So, what it means is that in 50 years we have not found solutions to why the grid collapses are perennial,” Jide Pratt, COO of AIONA and country manager of TradeGrid said on an X space.
For Pratt, grid failure is a major issue: “We seem to just shift the problem between generation, distribution, and transmission.
“But the reality is that if 10,000 megawatts of electricity is what we can generate, and we’re at a stage after 50 to 60 years where what is distributed is less than 4,000 (MW), then there’s a problem.”
Nigeria distributes circa 4000MW of electricity, according to the country’s system operation (SO) platform, despite having a grid generation installed capacity of 13,014.14 MW.
Speaking on the same X space, Adetayo Adegbemle, the convener and executive director of PowerUp Nigeria, called for the dismissal of certain individuals in the electricity value chain to address the issue, especially the individuals from the TCN.
“Everyone involved in the value chain should be embarrassed by the frequent incidents and their inability to implement measures to prevent these recurring grid collapses,” Adegbemle said.
Suggesting a way forward, Adegbemle said, “There is a need to align the value chain, and that was something the Siemens deal promised to achieve. Whatever is needed to forestall these grid collapses is definitely in the hands of the leadership of the TCN, especially.”
Meanwhile, less than 24 hours after the grid collapsed, fuel scarcity resurfaced across Nigeria, leaving households and businesses with further heartbreaks from the country’s energy sector.
“There’s fuel scarcity in Abuja. It’s N1,000 per litre at the black market while most filling stations in town are closed,” Eniola Akinkuotu said on his X handle.
For Oladapo Michael, a logistics business owner, the fuel scarcity has slowed down the operation of his business.
“Running my logistics business is extremely difficult. Imagine finding it difficult to get fuel while the fuel is still expensive,” Michael, also known as Omo Kogi on X, said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on Monday blamed the disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of petrol, between mother vessels and daughter vessels resulting from recent thunderstorms on the scarcity.
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According to the state-owned oil company, the adverse weather conditions also affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs and transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
NNPC said: “Due to the flammability of petroleum products and in compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, it was impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.
“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose a severe danger to the trucks, filling stations and human lives.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes which has constrained movement of PMS (petrol) from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja.”
In addition, the NNPC said it was working with relevant stakeholders to resolve the logistics challenges and restore a seamless supply of petrol to affected areas.
“Already, loading has commenced in areas where these challenges have subsided, and we are hoping the situation will continue to improve in the coming days and full normalcy will be restored,” it said while cautioning motorists to avoid panic buying and hoarding of petroleum products.
