Northern Nigeria Enters Second Week of Blackout Following Power Line Failure

Northern Nigeria has faced a power outage for a week following a major line failure on October 22. The blackout was triggered by the tripping of the 330kV Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission line, affecting the northeast, northwest, and parts of north-central regions.

According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), this initial fault caused the loss of 468 megawatts of electricity and has left states, including Kano, Kaduna, Bauchi, and Borno, without power. TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah said the tripping occurred early in the morning, at about 4:53 a.m. last Tuesday, and was worsened by ongoing vandalism on the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line—a key supply route for northern states.  TCN said it rerouted power through the Ugwaji-Apir line, but that did not work out.

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), however, criticised the response. The group, on Sunday, alleged that the blackout was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the North. They noted that delays in repairing two towers on the Shiroro line have worsened the situation and that the Jos line, a backup power source, has frequently tripped, with no repairs being made.

Following outrages on social media, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu announced on Monday that electricity should be restored within three to five days. He pledged to meet with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and distribution companies to ensure that northern customers will not be billed during the blackout period.

While discussing Nigeria’s broader power grid issues, Adelabu blamed the country’s reliance on ageing infrastructure.

Let me tell you the truth of the matter is we have old infrastructure. We have a national grid that is more than 50 years old. We have a national grid whose transmission lines are weak, the towers are falling, and the substations, the transformers are old, he said.

The recent fault in the 330kV DC transmission line comes shortly after Nigeria suffered three national grid collapses in one week. Despite the government’s past promises to improve the power sector, Nigeria’s electricity challenges have remained recurring. 

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