In a recent announcement, Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has committed to restoring electricity to Northern Nigeria within the next three days, addressing widespread concerns over ongoing power outages in the region.
Adelabu made this pledge on Tuesday while responding to inquiries from senators on the persistent power issues affecting the northern region and the recurring grid collapses across the country.
The power outage, which has left numerous communities without electricity, was reported on October 22 by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The TCN disclosed that the outage affected the North-East, North-West, and parts of the North-Central regions.
The disruption resulted from the tripping of the 330-kilovolt Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2, which play a critical role in delivering electricity to the northern part of the country.
Adding to the urgency, Nafisatu Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator (ISO), revealed that an insurgent attack had targeted the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line—one of the primary channels for transmitting power to the North.
The line's damage has exacerbated power supply challenges, leaving millions of residents in darkness and straining essential services across the affected areas.
In response to the security threat, President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian military to provide support and protection for workers repairing the damaged infrastructure.
According to Adelabu, this intervention will be critical to ensuring safe access to the affected grid areas, which have been obstructed by ongoing security concerns related to vandalism.
As an interim solution, Adelabu announced that power will be supplied through the Ugwuaji-Makurdi transmission line, which is expected to temporarily cover approximately 80% of the affected states.
“Power will be restored to the North in two to three days. We will use the Ugwuaji-Makurdi transmission line for temporary purposes,” Adelabu stated.
He assured senators and the public that security agencies are working in tandem with the Ministry of Power to access the damaged transmission lines. This collaboration will enable rapid assessment and repair of the infrastructure, ultimately paving the way for complete restoration of power to Northern Nigeria.
Adelabu projected a timeline for full restoration, stating, “I assure you that within the next 14 days, the repairs will be completed, and power will be fully restored to the North.”
