TCN Identifies Fault Responsible For Northern Nigeria Blackout, Prepares For Repairs

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully pinpointed the fault that led to a significant power outage affecting the northeast, northwest, and parts of north-central regions.

The outage, which began early Monday morning after the Ugwuaji–Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) double circuit transmission lines tripped, was traced to a snapped line in a swampy forest in Igumale, Benue State.

TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, provided an update on Wednesday detailing the discovery and the forthcoming repair efforts.

“A team of linesmen located the fault around 5 pm this evening in the swampy forest of Igumale area of Benue State,” she stated. The specific issue was identified as a snapped 330kV transmission line spanning one section of the line.

Mbah also explained the logistical challenges involved in the repair process, noting the difficult terrain where the fault occurred.

“Due to the swampy nature of the terrain, we will need to move a bulldozer and other essential materials from the Enugu Regional office to the site,” she added.

Additionally, a Hiab vehicle will be deployed to properly tension the transmission line once repairs commence.

The discovery came after two teams’ initial efforts, which could not determine the cause of the outage on their first attempts. Repair operations are scheduled to start on Thursday, with TCN mobilizing resources to ensure swift power restoration to the affected areas.

Mbah reassured the public of TCN’s commitment to quickly resolving the issue and thanked the government and consumers for their patience and understanding during this period of service interruption.

TCN