Residents in parts of northern Nigeria are facing power outages after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported a fault on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) double circuit transmission line. The outage, which occurred early Wednesday morning, has left many residents without electricity and raised concerns about the stability of the power supply in the region.
According to Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, the fault was traced to a snapped 330kV transmission line in the Igumale area of Benue State.
Mbah provided details on the situation, saying, “A team of linesmen from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has discovered the fault on the Ugwuaji – Apir 330kV Double Circuit transmission line, at about 5pm this evening, in the Igumale area of Benue State.”
The power disruption began when the 330kV Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2 tripped around 4:53 a.m., affecting electricity supply to several northern regions. Mbah explained that the problem was located in a difficult-to-reach swampy forest area in Igumale.
“The fault area of the transmission line, which measures about one span, was found to be a snapped 330kV transmission line located in the swampy forest of Igumale,” he stated.
Efforts to identify the cause of the power failure initially proved challenging, with two separate teams sent by TCN unable to pinpoint the fault until late Wednesday evening. Mbah highlighted the challenging nature of the terrain, noting that the swampy conditions have made repair work more complicated.
“Due to the difficult and swampy nature of the terrain, TCN would require to move a bulldozer and other materials for the repair works from the Enugu Regional office of TCN to the site of the incident,” he said.
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In preparation for the repair efforts, TCN plans to mobilize necessary equipment to the affected area. This includes bringing a Hiab vehicle to Igumale to properly tension the transmission line.
Mbah reassured the public of TCN’s dedication to resolving the power outage swiftly, stating, “We are urgently organizing the necessary materials for the repair work to begin on Thursday.”
The blackout has disrupted daily life for residents in the affected northern states, with many expressing frustration over the situation. The TCN’s prompt response to identifying the fault offers hope for a resolution, but the challenging conditions on the ground mean that the restoration process may take some time.