Nigerians experience power blackout as national grid collapses again

,,,,,Electricity distribution companies announced the breakdown, the fifth this year after prolonged hours of outage experienced in some parts of the country.
ByOge Udegbunam April 9, 2022 2 min read
Several Nigerian cities including the Federal Capital Territory were thrown into darkness Friday after the national grid collapsed again.

….Electricity distribution companies announced the breakdown, the fifth this year after prolonged hours of outage experienced in some parts of the country.

,,,,,The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company said, “Dear Esteemed Customers, the management of Kaduna electric regrets to inform you that the current outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to a collapse of the national grid.”

“The collapse occurred at about 18:29 pm this evening.Normal power supply shall be restored as soon as the grid is restored. We sincerely apologise for all inconveniences,” the spokesperson of the company, Abdulazeez Abdullahi said.

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company confirmed the collapse on Twitter late Friday Night.

“Please be informed that there has just been a national grid collapse causing an outage in our franchise areas. We apologize for the inconvenience caused and appeal that you bear with us while we await restoration from the TCN. We regret all inconvenience caused,” it said.

The Jos Electricity Distribution Company said the collapse happened at 6:30 p.m. across its distributing states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau.

….“Dear customers, there was a loss of supply as a result of the system collapse of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) about 6:30 p.m. across all our franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau,” it said.

,,,,,The Eko Electricity Distribution Company said, “Dear Esteemed Customers, a planned outage has been scheduled by our TCN partners for Saturday, April 9, 2022 between 9am and 3pm. This is to enable the TCN crew repair a wounded conductor between Tower #9 and #10 on the Ajah/Alagbon 330kV Line.”

The private distribution companies directly supply electricity to consumers and so have the responsibility to let their customers know the reason(s) for the power blackout.

,,,,,A similar grid collapse occurred twice in March 2022 at a time when the country was in a severe fuel crisis. The others happened in January and February this year.

The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, blamed the constant collapse on poor maintenance and shortage of gas. He, however, said the government had upgraded four power plants as part of efforts to improve the sector.

….Aside from the grid collapse, however, Nigerians witness insufficient electricity supply with millions of homes in darkness. This is because the nation generates less than 20 per cent of the electricity it needs and can’t even transmit and effectively distribute the little it generates.

,,,,,,,The previous Goodluck Jonathan administration privatized the power sector with the claim it would make it efficient but that has yet to be the case.

(Premium Times)
[4/9, 10:25 PM] De-Moon: MTN CEO’s father becomes new Ogunsua Modakeke

,,,,Eighty-one-year-old father of Karl Toriola, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Oba Toriola Olubiyi, has been installed the 20th Ogunsua of Modakeke land.

….The octogenarian businessman assumed the throne on Saturday following his coronation as the newly-installed Ogunsua of Modakeke, in a ceremony at his sacred palace in Modakeke, Osun State.

,,,,The installation rites for Oba Toriola, which commenced in the early hours of Saturday, climaxed with the adorning of the symbolic Akoko leaf on the new monarch.

…..Speaking with journalists at the Ogunsua market, Modakeke, where the last rites were performed on the new monarch, Oba Toriola, flanked by his wife, Comfort, said he had persevered in the line of ascension for 43 years before ultimately making it to the throne.

….He, however, assured his reign would herald a new beginning of success buckled with an all-round development of the community. He equally enjoined the mutual cooperation of all the great people of Modakeke towards achieving these developmental goals.

…..Asked how he felt, Oba Toriola said, “I feel elated. I have been in line for 43 years. I am happy. People should expect an all-round development. I will work with all stakeholders.”

The royal father succeeded Oba Moses Oyediran, whose death occurred in March this year.

,,,,During an interview with our correspondent, a retired Permanent Secretary in Osun State Civil Service, Fatai Kolawole, who is also the Oluomo of Modakeke, said Oba Toriola was well-travelled with good connection capable of bringing good development to the community.

….“We are happy with the installation of this monarch. He is the 20th Ogunsua. We know he is going to cooperate with the Ooni of Ife to ensure that peace reigns across Ifeland to bring about development,” Kolawole affirmed.

(Punch)