JUST IN: Wild Jubilations Over National Grid Restoration—–Nigerians Tuesday heaved a sigh of relief following the restoration of the National Grid shut down Monday by the Organised Labour, following a nationwide strike over the minimum wage and hike in electricity tariff.
Though some Nigerians had earlier expressed their displeasure over the shutdown of the grid by the Labour Unions, the restoration of the grid on Tuesday, according to them, had restored ‘life’ to them.
Newsmen reports that the grid, which was restored around 4:33 pm, was a follow-up to the suspension of the Organised Labour’s industrial action.
Speaking with Newsmen correspondent, a resident of Jahi 2 District in Abuja, Mr Rasak Zakariyau, expressed his appreciation for the grid restoration, adding that it would make life more comfortable.
Zakariyau, who is a civil servant, disclosed that the development would lessen his expenses on cooking gas and Petroleum to power his generating set.
He said: “Before now, I was not happy with the total blackout we experienced yesterday Monday) till a few minutes away, but now I am highly elated for the restoration of power in my area. Now, I will cut down my expenses on fuel and cooking gas.
“With the power restoration now, I will use my Hot Plate for cooking, and there is no need for me to spend any money on fuel to power my generating set again. Against tomorrow, I will also use it to iron my clothes for work”.
On his part, Mr. Musikilu Issa, a furniture maker, the restored power would ease his work and make him spend less on diesel.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had on Monday announced that the Labour Union shut down the national grid to plunge the country into darkness as it commenced the indefinite strike today.
TCN in a statement issued in Abuja by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, announced that the blackout began at approximately 2:19 am.
She said the incident started at 1:15 am when the Benin Transmission Operator, under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN, reported that all operators were forcefully removed from the control room.
According to TCN, staff members who resisted were assaulted, resulting in several injuries. With no control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Center was completely shut down.
Mbah said the Labour Union’s actions extended to other key transmission substations, including Ganmo, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, Osogbo, and Benin. The Union’s activities also led to the opening of several transmission lines, exacerbating the situation.
According to her, the power generating sector has not been spared, adding that various generating stations were forced to shut down units, including the Jebba Generating Station, which shut down one unit, followed by the automatic shutdown of three other units due to high-frequency issues.
She added that the development had sudden forced load cuts that destabilized the system, culminating in the nationwide grid collapse at 2:19 am.
Mbah, however, disclosed that despite the severe disruption, TCN had initiated efforts to restore the grid.
