In a devastating turn of events, Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, finds itself shrouded in darkness as a complete system breakdown has triggered extensive power outages across the nation. The blackout, which unfolded on Thursday, cast its shadow over all 36 states of Nigeria, including the capital, Abuja, leaving citizens and businesses in uncertainty regarding when normalcy might be restored.
The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, responsible for supplying power to southeastern Nigeria, made an official announcement regarding the dire situation, describing it as a “total system” collapse. Emeka Ezeh, the company’s spokesperson, lamented, “Due to this development, we regret to inform our valued customers that we are unable to provide service to our customers.”
Power generation levels plummeted to an alarming zero early on Thursday, only managing to inch back up to 273 megawatts (MW) by 10:30 GMT. This starkly contrasts with the daily average of 4,100MW, as reported by the Transmission Company of Nigeria. In response to the crisis, the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, responsible for supplying power to parts of northern Nigeria, released a statement assuring the public that “Power supply shall be restored as soon as the national grid is powered back.”
The issue of erratic power supply has long plagued Nigeria, a nation renowned for its oil and gas production. Consequently, many households and businesses have been forced to rely on diesel and petrol generators to bridge the energy gap. However, the situation has become increasingly dire as petrol and diesel prices skyrocketed, more than doubling over the course of the year. The government’s decision to terminate decades-long subsidies has left many struggling to find affordable alternatives to maintain a steady power source.
The power grid crisis is not a new occurrence in Nigeria, as 2022 witnessed at least four grid collapses, all attributed to technical glitches by authorities. Despite having an installed capacity of 12,500MW, Nigeria is currently producing a mere quarter of that capacity, further exacerbating the ongoing energy crisis that plagues the nation. As Nigerians await the restoration of power, they are left grappling with the harsh reality of yet another nationwide blackout.
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