Ayodeji Ayenuwa
In a major announcement, Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister for Power, has issued a stern warning to electricity workers concerning unauthorized shutdowns of the national grid during strikes.
The Minister emphasized the severe repercussions of these actions on households, industries, and businesses.
He made this statement following his visit to the National Control Center in Osun State, disclosing collaborative efforts with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to protect critical electricity installations.
Adebayo Adelabu addressed a recent nationwide blackout, attributing it to a grid collapse caused by a fire outbreak at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) sub-station in Kebbi State.
He announced the launch of an official investigation into this incident, emphasizing his commitment to take decisive action if any acts of sabotage are uncovered.
“Our goal is to enhance the services at the centre by incorporating advanced technologies, thereby improving the reliability and stability of power transmission through the national grid. Our primary focus is on expanding the electricity transmission capacity and implementing measures to significantly enhance the grid’s capacity,” he said.
During an extensive inspection of facilities at the National Control Center in Osogbo and the Osogbo sub-regional office of TCN, the Minister unveiled plans for infrastructure modernization and upgrades.
This modernization effort includes integrating advanced technologies to bolster grid stability, expand electricity transmission capacity, and elevate overall system reliability.
Adelabu also revealed his intention to conduct a thorough simulation and stress-testing exercise on the national grid.
According to him, “This will ensure a consistently stable national grid. To achieve this, we plan to conduct a simulation and stress-testing exercise on the National grid. The objective is to determine its current capacity and identify the necessary expansions to facilitate the transmission of more generated power to the grid for distribution to end consumers.”
Regarding the fire incident in Kebbi State, the Minister announced the formation of a high-level investigation panel.
According to him, “The fire caused significant damage, including the destruction of transformers valued at millions of naira. To address this issue, we have established a high-level investigation panel to determine the cause of the fire outbreak. If the investigations reveal any acts of sabotage, culprits will face the full force of the law. There is a pressing need to prioritize the protection of the national grid by implementing adequate security measures to prevent acts of sabotage.”
Furthermore, efforts are underway to enhance security around power installations across the nation in partnership with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu.
Adelabu strongly condemned unauthorized grid shutdowns during worker strikes, deeming them acts of economic sabotage and threats to national security.
He pledged to “engage all relevant stakeholders” to prevent such incidents in the future.
“Protecting the national grid is a shared responsibility that requires the participation of everyone. We must avoid any actions that could lead to a national blackout, as it not only poses dangers to our economy and national security but also jeopardizes the well-being of households, businesses, and industries.”
It is imperative that all stakeholders intensify their efforts to achieve further efficiency in delivering stable, affordable, and reliable electricity services to the nation.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
