North blackout: TCN to complete power restoration November 3

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced Sunday, November 3, 2024 as the date it will complete the restoration of power in its effort to end the blackout in the northern region of Nigeria.

The Managing Director of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, made this disclosure at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, updating Nigerians on efforts to restore electricity to the north.

Abdulaziz also said that the ongoing repairs to the damaged transmission line that led to a blackout in northern Nigeria will be sped up by the engineers.

“Restoring one of these lines will allow TCN to wheel about 400MW of power through that corridor. TCN is also intensifying efforts to repair and restore the second line on Ugwuaji-Apir by Sunday, 3 November 2024.

“This will enable TCN to wheel a substantial quantum of power from Apir to Jos, Kaduna, and Kano.

“Whenever the Shiroro-Kaduna line is out, the only other gateway used to supply the northern region is through the Ugwuaji–Apir transmission lines.”

Meanwhile, TCN had earlier debunked an allegation that it is sabotaging power in the north.

TCN in a statement signed by its General Manager (Public Affairs), Ndidi Mbah clarified that it is making efforts to restore bulk power in the northern region of Nigeria amid security challenges.

“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 National Electricity Regulatory Commission (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.

He stated that Ali, in her address at the hearing said the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line which supplies power to Northern Nigeria was vandalised 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 said 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.

Mbah in the statement disclosed that 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.

He added that prevailing insecurity in the area has delayed the immediate repair necessary to restore supply.

“However, as a temporary measure, TCN had rerouted bulk power supply through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV line which recently snapped,” Mbah said.

“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.

“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.”