Nigeria, March 2 -- In recent times, Nigeria's national grid has collapsed with a frequency that has become almost routine. Many observers have interpreted these repeated failures as evidence of systemic dysfunction, and rightly so. In efficient and resilient power systems, safeguards are built to manage excess generation through mechanisms such as effective curtailment, energy storage, or, more practically, the rerouting of power across a robust transmission network. A combination of these measures typically ensures grid stability even under fluctuating supply and demand conditions.

However, a closer examination of Nigeria's grid failures reveals more than operational weakness; it exposes a structural mismatch within the power sector. F...