The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called for a public hearing on the recent surge of power system disturbances that have led to widespread outages across the country.
The consultation is aimed at addressing the critical issues impacting the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and finding solutions to the increasing instability of the national grid.
In a statement, the Commission noted the worsening frequency of grid disturbances, which have been reversing significant progress made in recent years to reduce infrastructure deficits and improve grid stability.
“The Commission has noted with concern the recent escalating incidence of grid disturbances often leading to marked outages in several states,” the release stated.
The public hearing, which is in accordance with Section 48, subsection 1 of the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended), will involve key stakeholders in the NESI, civil society organizations, and the general public.
The hearing will be held on Thursday, 24th October 2024, at 10:00 am, at the Commission’s Hearing Room, located at Plot 1387, Cadastral Zone A00, Central Business District, Abuja.
The NERC’s management has emphasized the importance of this consultation as an opportunity to engage all relevant parties in addressing the power sector’s challenges and creating sustainable solutions.
National grid failures have become a recurring nightmare, with many calling for more decisive action to prevent future occurrences.
Last week alone, the power grid failed three times, throwing the nation into total blackouts.
The latest failure on Saturday, October 19, marked the eighth grid disturbance in 2024, underscoring the persistent instability in the country’s power infrastructure.