In an attempt to address the recurring issue of national grid collapse, the Federal Government has announced plans to construct a “super grid.” This announcement was made by the media aide to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji, in a statement released on Tuesday.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, revealed these plans during his attendance at the China-Africa Cooperation Summit in China. He criticized the current state of the national grid, stating that it is incapable of supporting the government’s vision for the power sector.
“If we assess the strength, capacity, and age of our existing national grid network, it’s evident that it cannot adequately support our power sector aspirations. Therefore, the construction of Western and Eastern super grids is imperative,” Adelabu emphasized.
The minister further explained that the project has received significant support from President Bola Tinubu, who recognizes its potential to improve the transmission network, stabilize the grid, and expand its capacity and flexibility.
Adelabu confirmed that 90% of the necessary approvals for the super grid project are already in place and will be finalized shortly.
The proposed super grid project aligns with the recommendations of former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji, who advocated for a similar solution to address the frequent grid collapses. Nnaji emphasized the need for a more robust and well-structured transmission network to accommodate the increasing capacity of power plants like Manbilla.
The Chairman of Geometric Power has also expressed support for the super grid project, commending Minister Adebayo Adelabu for reviving this crucial initiative.
The construction of the super grid is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s power infrastructure, reduce the frequency of grid collapses, and improve the overall reliability and efficiency of the country’s electricity supply.
