The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the identification of a fault responsible for the recent power outage affecting the North-East, North-West, and parts of the North-Central regions.
The outage it was learnt occurred following the tripping of the 330-kilovolt (kV) Ugwuaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2.
The power interruption, which took place on Monday, October 23, was reported by TCN on Tuesday.
According to the company, the transmission lines tripped at approximately 4:53 a.m., leading to widespread power outages in several regions. The company's technical team immediately initiated efforts to identify the cause of the outage.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday, 23 October, Ndidi Mbah, General Manager of Public Affairs for TCN, confirmed that the fault had been located in the Igumale area of Benue State. Mbah explained that a team of linesmen from TCN discovered the issue—a snapped 330kV transmission line—at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
"The fault area, measuring about one span, was identified as a snapped 330kV transmission line located in the swampy forest of Igumale, Benue State," the statement reads. Mbah further noted that the challenging terrain had delayed earlier efforts by two teams sent to investigate the outage, but the fault was successfully pinpointed on Wednesday evening.
Following the discovery, TCN on Thursday, immediately began mobilizing equipment and materials to the site. "Arrangements are underway to move the necessary tools and machinery to the site, including a bulldozer from the Enugu Regional Office and a Hiab vehicle to assist in properly tensioning the transmission line," Mbah added. The swampy and difficult terrain surrounding the fault area, according to him, has necessitated the use of heavy machinery for the repairs.
TCN has assured the public that repair work will commence promptly and that every effort is being made to restore power to the affected regions as soon as possible.
Mbah expressed gratitude to the government and electricity consumers for their patience during the outage and reaffirmed TCN’s commitment to addressing the issue with urgency.
The company has urged residents in the affected areas to remain calm as repair operations progress and emphasized its dedication to maintaining reliable power supply across the country.
