By Alui Akeem
A significant power outage has hit several parts of northern Nigeria as a result of a fault in the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) 330kV Ugwaji-Apir Double Circuit transmission lines. The incident, which occurred early on Tuesday, October 22, has left many regions in the North-East, North-West, and parts of North-Central Nigeria without power. The fault reportedly forced the transmission lines to trip, resulting in the loss of over 400 MW of electricity.
The Incident Behind the Power Outage
The TCN explained that the fault began when the Ugwuaji-Makurdi 330kV Line 2 tripped at approximately 4:53 AM. This caused the transfer of 243 MW to Line 1, which also tripped five minutes later, leading to a total loss of 468 MW. The tripping of both lines at such close intervals is attributed to a similar relay issue that TCN engineers are now investigating.
The company acted swiftly, dispatching teams of linesmen from Apir and Enugu transmission regions to track the fault across a challenging 215-kilometer route with 245 transmission towers. According to Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, efforts are being made to “expedite fault tracing” and resolve the outage that continues to impact power supply in northern regions of the country.
“TCN has restored supply to the 132kV transmission line from New Haven to Apir,” Mbah announced, “although the main 330kV lines remain down, prolonging the power outage in the Northern region. Unfortunately, the outage has been exacerbated by the Shiroro-Mando transmission line also being offline due to security concerns, adding to the challenges faced in restoring full power to affected areas.”
Impact on Northern Nigeria
This latest blackout has raised concerns among residents and businesses in northern Nigeria, who are heavily reliant on consistent electricity supply. The power disruption has affected numerous regions, including parts of the North-central, North-east, and North-west. While the 132kV line restoration offers some relief, the full restoration of power across these regions remains a priority for the TCN.
Mbah reassured the public that TCN is making every effort to locate the root cause of the outage and repair the damaged transmission lines to restore bulk power supply as soon as possible. The company has apologized for the inconvenience caused, emphasizing that it is working around the clock to mitigate the impact of the fault and prevent further disruptions.
Security and Logistical Challenges
The restoration according to TCN efforts is not without challenges. The Shiroro-Mando transmission line, which supplies power to a significant portion of northern Nigeria, remains offline due to security concerns, further limiting the available power supply.
Despite these setbacks, the TCN has shown commitment to restoring power and maintaining transparency by keeping the public informed of its progress. As repairs continue, residents in affected areas are urged to remain patient as the company works to resolve the issue and restore full electricity supply across the region.
