The national electricity grid will remain vulnerable to frequent collapses due to the government’s inability to repair a critical transmission line in northern Nigeria, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu revealed during the 2025 budget defense session with the Senate Joint Committee on Power.
Adelabu cited the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line, which has been non-functional since it was vandalized in October 2024, as a major factor behind the grid’s fragility. “The Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line was one of two major lines transmitting power to the north. The second, the Ugwuaji-Makurdi line, has been repaired, but the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line remains down due to insecurity,” he said.
The outage has forced the grid to rely on a single transmission line, increasing pressure and contributing to recurring collapses. “This is why our grid is so fragile,” Adelabu added.
The minister presented a N2 trillion budget for the power ministry and its agencies, allocating N229 billion to the ministry itself.
A significant portion of the budget, N700 billion, is dedicated to the Power Metering Initiative (PMI), which aims to reduce the metering gap and enhance billing transparency.
To address ongoing vandalism and insecurity, Adelabu highlighted collaboration with the National Security Adviser’s office.
He proposed a N200 billion plan to install solar lights and CCTV cameras on highways, targeting improved surveillance and protection of critical infrastructure.
Adelabu also announced plans to invest N36 billion in the distribution of transformers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
This is part of a broader strategy to enhance power distribution and reduce reliance on the fragile grid.
While grid collapses are expected to persist, the minister emphasized reducing restoration times. “We are actively collaborating with security agencies to ensure quicker restoration of power whenever the grid collapses,” Adelabu assured.
The minister’s statements underscore the challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector, including insecurity, vandalism, and outdated infrastructure, even as the government seeks long-term solutions.