Nigeria’s Grid Collapses: A National Shame – Oyebanjo

LAGOS — Dr. Idowu Oyebanjo, a distinguished power systems engineer, has labeled the recurring collapse of Nigeria’s national electricity grid a “national disgrace” that would trigger immediate political resignations in any functional economy. Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Sunday, the Managing Director of IDFON Power Engineering Consultants criticized the systemic failure that plunged millions into darkness twice within the first week of January 2026. This latest crisis follows a pattern of instability recorded throughout late 2025, signaling a catastrophic decay in the country’s energy infrastructure. Consequently, experts are now demanding a total purge of non-technical leadership in the sector, arguing that the absence of meritocracy remains the primary driver of the blackout epidemic.

The national grid operates as a delicate, integrated chain where the slightest disruption in voltage or frequency can trigger a total system shutdown. Currently, over 80 percent of Nigeria’s electricity generation depends on gas-fired plants, making the system highly vulnerable to gas supply shortages or pipeline vandalism. Furthermore, the persistent failure to deploy a functional Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system since 1988 has left operators blind to real-time network fluctuations. While it is true that Nigeria inherited a foundation from Great Britain, decades of underinvestment have rendered the network archaic. Indeed, Oyebanjo noted that while developed nations treat grid collapses as national disasters, Nigerians have tragically become desensitized to these systemic failures.

The lack of coordinated protection systems means that localized faults on distribution lines frequently escalate into national blackouts. In a related development, the widespread rejection of power by Distribution Companies (DisCos) due to electricity theft and non-payment further destabilizes the load balance. Granted, the newly established Nigerian Independent System Operator seeks to modernize oversight, but technical planning remains hampered by political interference. Significantly, Oyebanjo argued that placing power assets in economically unviable locations for political reasons creates technical “voltage imbalances” that weaken the entire grid. Notably, he cited the success of Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew, emphasizing that “honesty, pragmatism, and meritocracy” are the only conduits to a functional utility sector.

Significantly, the 2023 Electricity Act signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu offers a beacon of hope through the decentralization of the power market. This framework allows states to bypass the fragile national grid by developing localized, integrated power enclaves. Above all, the “Aba Model” by Geometric Power serves as a historical proof of concept, where residents remained powered despite national grid failures. Subsequently, state governments must focus on creating enabling environments, providing rights of way, and regulatory certainty to attract private investors for these independent hubs. Although the transition will take time, the shift toward a “patchwork” of state-led grids appears to be the most viable escape from the current centralized dysfunction.

Finally, the focus of the national power discourse must shift from “allocating megawatts” to appointing technically proficient leaders who understand fundamental electrical engineering. Therefore, the government must prioritize expertise over political patronage if it hopes to end the global embarrassment of a 21st-century nation without light. As a result of this persistent instability, the quest for industrialization in Nigeria remains suspended in a state of artificial darkness.