Nigerians suffer blackouts as system collapse hits national grid

• Vandals attack Abuja substation- AEDC

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that the national grid at 11:25 am on Sunday witnessed yet another system collapse, attributing the collapse to multiple trippings.

This was revealed in a statement issued by the company’s spokesperson, Mrs Ndidi Mbah.

The statement read: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) regrets to inform electricity consumers nationwide that at 11:25 am today, the nation’s electricity grid experienced multiple trippings, which led to the collapse of the system.”

TCN announced that it has since commenced grid restoration, adding that power has been successfully restored to every part of the country, except Calabar, Ugwuaji, Markurdi, Jos, Gombe, Yola and Maiduguri axis.

“Effort is, however, ongoing to ensure full restoration nationwide,” it said.

TCN noted that investigations would be conducted to establish the immediate and remote cause(s) of the multiple trippings as soon as the grid is fully restored “considering that the grid had been relatively stable in the last couple of months.”

In related development, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) said the power outages experienced in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was due to activities vandals on the 330/132kV Gwagwalada/Kukwaba line that transports power to the 2 x 60MVA Kukwaba injection substation.

AEDC said affected areas include: Kaura District, Galadimawa, Lokogoma, Suncity, Moccido Housing Estate, Games Village, Eyes Centre Hospital, National Stadium.; Feeds Milipat Filling Station, part of Indoor Stadium, Kuchingoro, Karamajigi, King Park Estate, Royal Ancor Estate, DSS Quarters, Wilbahi Estate, Wuye, Utako, among others.

The AEDC spokesperson, Mr Oyebode Fadipe in a statement said while the lifeline maintenance crew of the TCN is already working on the vandalised section of the 330kV/132kV line, efforts were being made to back feed customers from Apo substation.

“We, therefore, apologise to our beloved customers for this disruption and do promise that electricity supply will be restored immediately the fault is cleared,” Fadipe said.