Nigeria’s national electricity grid continues to face frequent collapses due to the prolonged outage of the Shiroro-Kaduna-Mando transmission line, which has remained unrepaired since being vandalized in October 2024.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this during the Senate Joint Committee on Power’s 2025 budget defense session, citing insecurity as the primary barrier to repairs.
“The Kaduna-Shiroro-Mando line was one of two major lines transmitting power to the north. While the Ugwuaji-Makurdi line has been repaired after vandalism, the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line remains down due to insecurity,” Adelabu stated. “This reliance on a single line makes the grid fragile and prone to strain.”
The damaged line has left the grid under immense pressure, leading to recurrent collapses. Although the government is working to mitigate disruptions and accelerate power restoration, Adelabu warned that further collapses are likely until the line is repaired.
To combat vandalism and strengthen the power infrastructure, the government is collaborating with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Key Allocations in the N2 Trillion Power Budget for 2025
- N700 Billion for Power Metering Initiative (PMI): To close the metering gap, enhance billing transparency, and curb fraud.
- N36 Billion for Transformer Distribution: To reinforce electricity infrastructure across all six geopolitical zones.
- N200 Billion for Security Measures: Includes solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras along highways to deter vandals.
“We acknowledge the challenges posed by full or partial grid collapses, but our priority is reducing restoration time and addressing the root causes,” Adelabu emphasized.
The minister highlighted that tackling insecurity and modernizing infrastructure are critical steps toward stabilizing the grid and ensuring reliable power supply nationwide.