‘Insecurity delayed repair’ — TCN speaks on efforts to restore power in northern Nigeria

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it is working tirelessly to restore bulk power supply in the Northern part of the country as quickly as possible despite prevailing security challenges.

On October 22, TCN reported a power outage in the north-east, north-west and parts of north-central after the 330 kV Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped around 4:53am “due to a fault”.

Two days later, the transmission company said its linesmen had identified the fault responsible for the power outage.

Some media reports had said the power outage would persist due to security challenges hindering repairs on critical transmission lines.

Addressing the reports, TCN, in a statement on Sunday by Ndidi Mbah, its general manager of public affairs, said it is working with security agencies to repair the vandalised Shiroro-Kaduna line that led to reduction of bulk electricity to Kaduna, Kano and other major cities in the north.

“Contrary to media reports suggesting an indefinite power outage in parts of Northern Nigeria, erroneously attributed to the Executive Director (Independent System Operator), Engr. (Mrs) Nafisatu Ali, while speaking at the recently held NERC public hearing, TCN would like to state categorically that it is working diligently to restore bulk power supply as quickly as possible despite prevailing security challenges,” Mbah said.

“Engr. (Mrs) Nafisatu Ali, in her address at the hearing, said that the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, which supplies power to Northern Nigeria, was vandalized by insurgents and in response, TCN has partnered with the National Security Adviser’s office to secure the area, enabling her engineers to work safely on the restoration.

“Engr. Ali emphasized that deploying engineers without security support is not feasible, given the risks in the region. 

“She therefore dispelled any suggestion that restoration would be indefinite, stressing that TCN’s focus remains on ensuring an even supply of electricity nationwide and that security arrangements were underway.

“The current outage affecting Northern states for several days now is a result of vandalism of the Shiroro-Mando transmission line – a critical infrastructure that supplies electricity to the region. 

“Prevailing insecurity in the area has delayed the immediate repair necessary to restore supply.”

‘TEMPORARY MEASURE IN PLACE’

TCN said it has provided a temporary measure by rerouting the bulk power supply through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330 kilovolt (kV) line, which recently tripped.

“TCN has been collaborating closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to work with our engineers to access the vandalism site to enable them to effect necessary repairs,” Mbah said. 

“This is vital to ensure the safety of lives during the repairs.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to overcoming these challenges because we understand the place of electricity in the socio-economic lives of the people and the extreme inconveniences this situation is causing the government and all electricity customers in all the affected areas.”

TCN also pledged not to relent in doing everything possible to rectify the problems and restore power supply to the affected areas.