TCN Explains Nationwide Blackout

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said recent disruption in supply of electricity across the country was occasioned by a major collapse of the transmission grid.

The TCN in a statement by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi stated that a fault had occurred on a major transmission line running from Benin-City, Edo State to Lagos through Osogbo, Osun State which resulted in the shutdown of the Egbin, Omotosho and Olorunsogo power stations respectively.

While extending apologies to electricity consumers across the country, it explained that the development resulted in nationwide blackout which occurred on May 24.

He, however, noted that recovery efforts by the company’s engineers to rectify the fault as well as bring up the system had begun but will take some time due to the magnitude of the incident.

Although power supply had not been fully restored in pockets of areas within some states, the company, however, assured Nigerians that it expects that the system would be fully recovered by the end of yesterday, adding that a separate incident had seen three of its transmission towers damaged by rain storm, in the North-western part of the country.

FG Upgrades Ibom Power Transmission Network

The Federal Government has commenced the upgrade of the transmission line between Eket and Uyo, as well as Uyo and Itu, all in Akwa Ibom State. The existing transmission line can only allow the power plant to evacuate a maximum of 70megawatts, instead of an optimum average of 173MW.

Power for consumers in Akwa Ibom State is provided through a 132kV transmission line which runs from Ibom Power Plant in the South through Eket and Uyo to Itu in the North where it connects to other parts of the national grid.

Part of the line between Ibom Power Plant and Eket, which was constructed at the same time as the power plant can carry over 200MW, but the older line between Eket, Uyo and Itu can only carry 75MW.

The upgrade of the transmission line will be executed in two phases, with the first phase covering Eket to Uyo expected to last for 40 days. During the period of the upgrade or restringing of the line, Ibom Power Plant would provide power for consumers in Eket and its environs. However, stated that the national grid would provide power for consumers served by Uyo and Itu substations.