Paragraph 1: Nigeria’s power grid is facing a period of planned outages as the Federal Government and its agencies work to stabilize and improve the electricity supply nationwide. The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), responsible for grid management, announced that these outages are part of a broader maintenance and upgrade project affecting various regions. Currently, several northeastern states, including Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, and Yobe, are experiencing blackouts due to ongoing work on the transmission infrastructure. The NISO Managing Director, Abdu Mohammed, explained that these outages are necessary, albeit inconvenient, steps towards addressing the long-standing challenges plaguing the power sector.
Paragraph 2: The ongoing blackout in the northeast stems from the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s (TCN) construction of a turn-in-turn-out connection along the vital 330kV Jos-Bauchi-Gombe transmission line. This connection is crucial for integrating the new Bauchi 330kV transmission substation into the national grid, enhancing the overall capacity and reliability of power transmission in the region. The NISO emphasized that this particular project aims to significantly improve electricity supply to the affected northeastern states, which have historically suffered from unreliable power. The project is scheduled to last from Tuesday to Saturday, during which a complete blackout is expected in Yola, Adamawa State, and Jalingo, Taraba State.
Paragraph 3: While the northeastern states are currently the focus, the NISO cautioned that similar planned outages should be expected across other regions as the nationwide maintenance project continues throughout the year. The overall objective is to systematically upgrade the transmission infrastructure and improve the reliability and availability of electricity supply across Nigeria. This phased approach is intended to minimize nationwide disruptions while still allowing for necessary upgrades in different areas. The NISO acknowledged the inconvenience these outages cause but stressed the long-term benefits they will bring to the power sector.
Paragraph 4: To mitigate the impact of the blackouts, the NISO explained that limited power supply will be maintained in affected areas using alternative transmission routes. During the northeastern outage, Gombe and Biu will receive power through the Dadin-Kowa Hydro Power Plant and the Maiduguri substation, supported by the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant. Although there will be a temporary reduction in bulk electricity supply to Jos and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies, complete blackouts are limited to Yola and Jalingo. This strategy ensures that some level of power supply is maintained while crucial upgrades are carried out.
Paragraph 5: The TCN elaborated on the technical details of the project in the northeast, highlighting the installation of a new transmission tower to strengthen the network’s resilience and provide backup capabilities. Upon completion, the Bauchi and Gombe substations will be able to support each other during maintenance or faults, and Jos will be able to directly supply the Bauchi substation through a 132kV line if the primary 330kV connection via Gombe is unavailable. These enhancements will improve emergency response efficiency and provide alternative transmission routes, contributing to a more stable and reliable power supply for the region.
Paragraph 6: Both the NISO and TCN appealed for patience from affected customers, assuring them that normal electricity supply will be restored as quickly as each phase of the project is completed. They emphasized that these short-term disruptions are essential for achieving long-term improvements in the power sector. The upgrades are expected to address the chronic underperformance that has plagued Nigeria’s electricity supply for years, ultimately leading to a more reliable and efficient power grid for businesses and consumers nationwide. The temporary outages are presented as a necessary step toward a more sustainable and dependable power future.
