Electricity distribution companies in northern Nigeria incurred losses amounting to N74 billion between July and September 2024, according to data from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The losses stem from worsening power disruptions caused by grid instability and infrastructure vandalism.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria confirmed the nation’s 10th grid collapse of the year, which occurred at 1:52 pm on November 5, 2024.
Speaking on the incident, TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah stated, “The national grid experienced a partial disturbance following a series of line and generator trippings that destabilized the system.”
The recent grid collapse adds to three similar incidents in October, which left much of the country without electricity.
The situation in northern Nigeria has been particularly dire due to the vandalization of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line—a critical link supplying electricity to the region.
For two weeks in October, 17 northern states endured total blackouts, affecting Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, and Yobe. Others included Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Niger, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Benue states.
Between July and September, the five electricity distribution companies serving the northern region—Kano, Abuja, Yola, Kaduna, and Jos Discos—recorded cumulative losses of N73.68 billion.
Despite issuing bills worth N209 billion during the period, the companies were only able to collect N135.6 billion due to declining power distribution.
In July, the Discos collected N46.4 billion out of N66.17 billion billed, recording a shortfall of N19.7 billion. Losses worsened in August to N22.69 billion, as N46.92 billion was collected from N69.61 billion issued. By September, the deficit surged to N31.22 billion, with only N42.31 billion recovered from the N73.61 billion billed.
Kano Disco was the most affected, losing N11.88 billion in September alone after collecting just N3.07 billion from N14.95 billion billed. Other losses for the month included N6.49 billion for Abuja Disco, N2.56 billion for Yola, N3.8 billion for Kaduna, and N6.57 billion for Jos Disco.
The Federal Government attributed the persistent power disruptions in the region to repeated attacks on electricity infrastructure. “The vandalization of critical transmission lines like the Shiroro-Kaduna line has significantly worsened electricity supply in northern Nigeria,” a government spokesperson noted.
