Kunle Olubiyo, the President of the Nigeria Consumer Protection Network, has expressed serious concerns regarding the frequent collapses of the national power grid, emphasizing that these incidents highlight the deficiencies within the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

His comments come in response to the sixth grid failure of 2024, which occurred on Monday at approximately 6:48 PM, leaving many parts of the country plunged into darkness once again.

While the TCN characterized this collapse as partial and assured that restoration efforts were underway, many Nigerians remained without power hours later.

Olubiyo criticized TCN for its history of responding to such crises with mere platitudes rather than effective solutions.

He stated that the repeated failures of the national grid, along with ongoing challenges related to its stability and reliability, stem from a lack of genuine commitment to addressing these issues.

He remarked, “The repeated occurrences of system collapses and challenges to the National Grid’s stability are largely due to the management’s insincerity and their tendency to pay lip service to a broad range of problems while misplacing priorities over the years.”

Olubiyo pointed out that inadequate investment in necessary network improvements, insufficient protective systems, and a near-total lack of vegetation control have all contributed to the ongoing crises.

He emphasized that these issues have been recognized for some time but have received little attention from TCN’s leadership.

The pattern of grid collapses is alarming, with previous failures recorded on February 4, July 6, August, and September 19 of this year alone.

According to TCN data, the national grid has suffered over 227 collapses in the last 14 years, underscoring a chronic problem in the country’s electricity supply system.

This situation is particularly troubling given that electricity tariffs were increased by 240 percent in April, further straining the financial burdens on Nigerian households and businesses.

As power outages continue to affect daily life, the call for accountability and effective management within TCN becomes increasingly urgent.

Olubiyo’s insights reflect the frustrations of many Nigerians who are tired of empty promises and inadequate responses to a crisis that has persisted for far too long.

The need for immediate, substantial reforms in the management of Nigeria’s electricity supply is clearer than ever, as citizens hope for a stable and reliable power system that meets their needs.