TCN ASSURE OF RESTORATION OF POWER BY NOV 3

Engr Sule Ahmed Abdullaziz 
MD, Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN 

"The Shiroro - Mando 330kv line 1 tripped on 9th September 2024 and in accordance with standard practice, patrol of safe area was done, but faulty section could not be reached due to insecurity." TCN 

Following the power outages recorded in some parts of the country in the last couple of days, the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN, Engr Sule Ahmed Abdullaziz has come out to provide some explanations to the country.

While some sections have helped the blame squarely on the doorsteps of the TCN, key players in the industry have instead, pitched the power challenges currently being experienced in the country on government, insisting on the need for a holistic and transparent approach in addressing the situation which they openly castigate government for its poor funding of the company with many equipments that requires outright replacements and not repairs as some have become outdated and obsolete.

The TCN boss, at a recently held parley in Abuja, the nation's capital, while giving an update on the power situation, disclosed that "the Shiroro - Mando 330kv line 1 tripped on 9th September 2024 and in accordance with standard practice, patrol of safe area was done, but faulty section could not be reached due to insecurity.

"Efforts were made by using local vigilante who confirmed snap conductor on a tower but they could not identify the tower number." 

"Arrangements were made to use the local group to escort our engineers in the night to effect repairs in order to evade the bandits in the location. Unfortunately, we did not succeed because the bandits got wind of our intentions and laid siege to the area." He stated.

Engr Sule Abdullaziz further disclosed that "Minimum supply was maintained to the North-West corridor through the second circuit until 13th October, 2024 when the second line tripped and failed to stay on trial reclosure. Local vigilantes were again engaged to comb the area but could only access part of the safe area. Hence, TCN solicited the support of the Nigeria Air force, Kaduna for unmanned aerial surveillance on 17th October 2024 and the impacted towers were identified. They were four (4) in number with 3 totally collapsed and 1 number twisted."

To further compound the power outages, more faults emerged as activities of vandals on the  Ugwuaji - Apir 330kV lines was reported on 21st October, 2024 causing tripping of the lines.

The TCN MD revealed at the parley that, to address the situation, "Trial reclosure failed and patrol revealed damaged conductors due to vandalism. This compounded the transmission of bulk power to the Northern corridor as these lines serve as link between Northern and  Southern area. This outage severely affected the wheeling capacity of TCN."

"The area affected has been secured with help of Nigerian Army and in concerted effort is ongoing on one of the lines for restoration. Restoration of one of these lines will allow TCN to wheel about 400MW of power in that corridor. Also TCN is intensifying efforts to repair and restore the second line on Ugwuaji – Apir on or by Sunday 3rd November, 2024. This will avail TCN to wheel substantial quantum of power through Apir to Jos to Kaduna to Kano."

In his conclusion, Engr Sule Abdullaziz while calling for understanding, disclosed that "TCN is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA for security of personnel and site on Shiroro - Mando 330kV SC lines for commencement of rehabilitation of impacted towers in this axis."