Residents in six northern Nigerian states are bracing for a 48-hour power outage as the Transmission Company of Nigeria begins work on a major transmission line.

The TCN said the interruption will affect Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa and Taraba states. State capitals including Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola and Jalingo are also listed among the areas that will be impacted.

Ndidi Mbah, spokesperson for the TCN, confirmed the development in a statement released on Saturday. She explained that the outage is required to allow engineers to install Optical Ground Wire, OPGW, on the 330kV Jos-Bauchi-Gombe single-circuit transmission line.

The installation will take place at the Bauchi 330/132/33kV substation. Because of this, two distribution companies will be cut off from bulk supply during the period.

The TCN noted that both the Yola Electricity Distribution Company and the Jos Electricity Distribution Company will be unable to receive power for onward distribution to homes and businesses in the affected locations.

Other areas mentioned include Bauchi, Gombe and their surrounding communities. According to the statement, bulk power supply will return as soon as the exercise is completed.

“As a result, Yola Electricity Distribution Company, YEDC and Jos Electricity Distribution Company, JEDC will be unable to offtake electricity for onward delivery to customers in Bauchi, Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Jalingo, and its environs. Please note that bulk power supply will be restored immediately after the exercise,” the statement read.

The planned work is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the national grid and improve communication along transmission lines. Residents have been advised to make alternative power arrangements for the two-day period.

Categories: Energy, News, North Nigeria
Tags: TCN, power outage, blackout, northern nigeria, YEDC, JEDC, electricity
Sources: TCN Official Statement

— Atinuke Otedola and her Editorial Team