“No End In Sight For Grid Collapses Due To Insecurity,” Says Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has stated that frequent collapses of the national electricity grid will persist due to the government’s inability to repair a key transmission line in northern Nigeria, citing ongoing insecurity.

Speaking during the 2025 budget defense session with the Senate Joint Committee on Power, Mr. Adelabu highlighted the impact of vandalism on the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line, which has been out of service since October 2024.

“The Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando line, one of two major transmission lines to the north, remains down due to insecurity, leaving the grid reliant on the Ugwuaji-Makurdi line, which was also vandalized but has been repaired. This dependence makes the grid fragile and prone to collapses,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Mr. Adelabu assured that the government is working to reduce the frequency of collapses and improve restoration times. He also emphasized collaboration with the National Security Adviser’s office and security agencies to address infrastructure vandalism.

Additionally, the minister revealed plans to invest N36 billion in distributing transformers across the six geopolitical zones to bolster the power sector.