Grid collapse: Invest in power infrastructure expansion, expert urges government

A power expert, Dr. Olukayode Akinrolabu, has urged the Federal Government to invest in expanding the country’s power infrastructure and creating more injection stations to address frequent system collapses.

Akinrolabu, who is the Chairman, Customer Consultative Forum, FESTAC/Satellite District, said on Friday in Lagos that the appeal came against the backdrop of incessant power system collapses nationwide.

Supreme News reports that there was a widespread blackout across the country following the total collapse of Nigeria’s electricity grid early Thursday morning.

The grid collapsed totally around 12:40 a.m. on Sept. 14, leading to the massive loss of supply to power distributors nationwide.

Akinrolabu said that the frequent system collapse of the national grid was a result of several hydra-headed factors such as poor maintenance, a low capacity threshold, congestion, and dilapidated infrastructure.

According to him, the grid network operations of the Transmission Company of Nigeria should be reviewed through privatisation, collaboration with foreign experts and expansion of infrastructure.

“There is also the need for the government to establish more injection stations that are free from government control and to report operations through dedicated affiliates.

“Injecting more expatriates into the system for quality assurance is also required by government,” he said.

Akinrolabu noted that it was always a huge loss for a nation’s grid to collapse for almost a whole day, adding that the economic loss was colossal.

“Production of goods and services is affected.

“The labour force is adversely affected as many will either be unemployed or underemployed, and production is inhibited,” he said.

The power expert said that privatisation of the TCN would not only guarantee effective performance but also a well-structured and balanced system with qualified personnel devoid of mediocrity and “man-know-man” idiosyncrasies.

He said that the population was growing at 2.7%, but the electrification infrastructure was not enjoying corresponding maintenance.

Akinrolabu advised that power equipment should be of the same standard with a global specification and that periodic maintenance must be adopted.

He said that data capturing of all customers would suffice, adding that the customers should be on the data base of the Distribution Companies (DisCos) and government.

“Every state should strive to build power stations and see how to build more injection stations where we can improve power generation through a resourceful combination of petroleum, gas, and solar.

“The government can also address the frequent system collapses through the installation of standard equipment, the employment of foreign aides to train local personnel, and privatisation,” Akinrolabu advised.