System Collapse Hits Nigeria’s Power Transmission Lines, Throws Some Parts Into Darkness

Nigeria’s power transmission lines on Sunday experienced system collapse giving rise to blackout in most parts of the country.

However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said transmission had been restored except Calabar, Ugwuaji, Markurdi, Jos, Gombe, Yola and Maidugiri axes, which its engineers were working to restore as soon as possible.

TCN in a statement by the General Manager ( Public Affairs), Ndidi Mbah, disclosed the hiccups in transmission saying, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) regrets to inform electricity consumers nationwide that at 11:25am today, the nation’s electricity grid experienced multiple trippings, which led to the collapse of the system.

“TCN has since commenced grid restoration; power has been successfully restored to every part of the country, except Calabar, Ugwuaji, Markurdi, Jos, Gombe, Yola and Maidugiri axes. Effort is however ongoing to ensure full restoration nationwide.

“We regret the inconvenience this has caused electricity consumers. Investigations would be conducted to establish the immediate and remote cause(s) of the multiple trippings as soon as the grid is fully restored – considering that the grid had been relatively stable in the last couple of months.”

Further, she explained the circumstances under which some parts of FCT experienced power outage even before the system collapse .

While making reference to reported vandalisation of transmission lines, she said, “Yes, there was an attempt by vandals on the Gwagwalada – Kukwaba 132kV transmission line, but they were not successful and nothing was carted away.

“Supply has been restored on the line after a thorough line patrol. However, due to the system collapse this afternoon which made the grid too unstable, all the affected areas supplied through Kukuaba TS will receive normal supply as soon as the grid stabilised.”