The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has blamed the most recent national grid collapse on the explosion of a transformer at the Jebba Transmission station.

Several parts of the country were thrown into a blackout in the early hours of the day, the third time in a week.

NERC said it is concerned by the ?escalating incidence of grid disturbances? which is ?reversing many of the gains recently achieved in reducing infrastructure deficit and improving grid stability?.

?Initial reports on the grid disturbance that occurred this morning indicate that today?s outage was triggered by an explosion of a current transformer at the Jebba transmission station at 0815hrs and an associated cascade of power plants shut down arising from the loss of load,? the NERC said in a Saturday statement. ?However, efforts to restore supply have advanced with power significantly restored, as at 1300hrs, in 33 states and the FCT.?

NERC said it is working to ensure a more ?discipline in grid management and optimised investment in infrastructure?.

?In pursuit of finding a permanent resolution to the challenges of the national grid, the Commission shall shortly conduct an investigative public hearing with a view to identifying immediate and remote causes of recurring incidences of grid disturbances and widespread outages,? it said.

?The date and venue of the public hearing will shortly be announced in the national dailies and stakeholders are encouraged to participate.? (Channels TV)