…repairs on Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV line expected to restore temporary supply to Kaduna State on Saturday, says Kaduna Electric
Oredola Adeola
Large swathes of North-Central, North-East, and North-West Nigeria, along with power exports to the Niger Republic, continues as outage enters have been without electricity for over six days, severely disrupting businesses, essential services, and critical infrastructure.
Hospitals and other facilities reliant on power for life-saving equipment are grappling with operational challenges, while economic activities in the affected regions have taken a significant hit.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that three towers along the line had been damaged, forcing a shutdown of electricity supply to Kano, Kaduna, Jos, and other parts of the North.
The disruption has also impacted power exports to the Niger Republic.
According to Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, security challenges in the region have delayed immediate repairs on the vandalized infrastructure.
As an interim solution, TCN diverted electricity through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line.
However, the alternative line tripped due to a fault near Igumale, Benue State, further worsening the power crisis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mbah disclosed that the fault on the Ugwuaji-Apir line was traced to a snapped transmission line located in a swampy forest area in Igumale.
To expedite repairs, engineers from TCN’s Enugu Regional Office have mobilized heavy equipment, including a bulldozer and a Hiab vehicle, to access the difficult terrain.
Mbah assured the public that work on the faulty line is scheduled to begin on Thursday, October 24, with hopes of achieving partial restoration of power soon.
However, full restoration across all affected areas remains uncertain as repairs on the vandalized Shiroro-Mando line are still pending.
The ongoing outage highlights the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure amidst security concerns, underscoring the need for increased protection of national assets.
Engr. Nafisatu Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator at the TCN, disclosed during a public hearing by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday that repairs on the vandalized Shiroro-Mando transmission line remain stalled due to worsening security challenges in the area.
Engr. Nafisatu explained that security advice from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has restricted TCN from accessing the site for repairs until the situation stabilizes.
Even after temporary repairs on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) line, the transmission capacity to Kano, Kaduna, and parts of the Niger Republic will remain limited to 350 megawatts (MW)—despite the line’s 750 MW capacity—due to voltage stability challenges in Kano.
TCN further acknowledged that full restoration of power would be difficult until repairs are completed on the Shiroro-Mando line, a critical infrastructure connecting bulk power to the region.
The ongoing outage has severely impacted electricity consumers supplied by the Kano, Kaduna, and Jos Electricity Distribution Companies, leaving many residents and businesses without power for over a week.
Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head of Corporate Communication at Kaduna Electric, said on Saturday that barring any unforeseen circumstances, TCN’s team is expected to complete repairs on the faulty Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV line on Saturday.
According to him, that effort should allow for a temporary restoration of power to Kaduna State.
“We empathize with our customers and will restore supply immediately once TCN resumes transmission to us,” Abdullahi stated.
Meanwhile, Jos Electricity Distribution Plc has issued a public appeal urging communities to protect electrical installations from further vandalism.
The DisCo warned that “unscrupulous elements” might take advantage of the blackout to target critical infrastructure, which could prolong outages and deepen the crisis.
Advisors Reports gathered that the crisis began last week when vandals destroyed multiple towers on the 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines 1 and 2, vital for delivering bulk power to northern states.
The vandalism caused significant disruptions in Kano, Kaduna, and neighboring areas, as confirmed by TCN.
In response, TCN diverted power through the Ugwuaji-Makurdi 330kV line to mitigate the impact.
However, the alternative line tripped on October 22 due to a fault near Igumale in Benue State, resulting in the loss of 468 MW of power, worsening the already dire situation.
