On June 3, 2024, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced that the Labour Union had shut down the national grid, resulting in a nationwide blackout. The shutdown occurred at approximately 2:19 a.m. this morning.
At around 1:15 a.m., the Benin Transmission Operator, part of TCN’s Independent System Operations unit, reported that union members had removed all operators from the control room. Staff who resisted were beaten, and some sustained injuries during the confrontation. Consequently, the Benin Area Control Center was rendered inoperative.
The Labour Union also shut down several other transmission substations, including those in Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo. Due to the union’s ongoing actions, some transmission lines were also disconnected.
The disruption extended to power generation, forcing various generating stations to shut down units. At the Jebba Generating Station, one unit was shut down, and three others followed due to high frequency, resulting in system instability and ultimately causing the national grid to shut down at 2:19 a.m.
Efforts to recover the grid began at approximately 3:23 a.m. TCN utilized the Shiroro Substation to supply electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. However, the Labour Union continues to obstruct grid recovery efforts nationwide.
TCN said it remains committed to restoring and stabilizing the grid so that normal bulk electricity transmission to distribution load centres across the country can resume.
Is this authorised?
In September 2023, Nigeria’s Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu, said that the shutdown of the national grid during strike actions is unauthorised. He said this in a September 24 statement via his Twitter (X) handle. He said:
“Regarding unauthorized shutdowns of the national grid during industrial actions involving electricity workers, we consider such actions as acts of economic sabotage and threats to national security. We will engage all relevant stakeholders to ensure that such incidents do not occur under any circumstances in the future.
“Protecting the national grid is a shared responsibility that requires the participation of everyone. We must avoid any actions that could lead to a national blackout, as it poses dangers to our economy and national security and jeopardizes the well-being of households, businesses, and industries.”
Meanwhile, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said it will disconnect major Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and some military formations in the country due to prolonged unpaid debts.