TCN Restores Power In Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Plateau, Others
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says restoration of electricity supply to some Northern states has commenced following the successful repair of the 330kV Ugwuaji-Apir transmission line 1.
Initially set up as a backup power supply for the North following the vandalisation of the Shiroro-Mando line, the Ugwuaji-Apir transmission line was also attacked by vandals leading to the unfortunate 10-day blackout in most states across the northern region.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, TCN’s Public Affairs General Manager, Ndidi Mbah confirmed that power was restored at 4:56 pm, signalling the completion of ongoing repair works.
By this development, the statement explained that the Apir-Lafia 330kV transmission line 2 is now operational, enabling the resumption of bulk power transmission to Lafia in Nasarawa State, Makurdi in Benue State, and Jos in Plateau States.
Others that have also heaved a sigh of relief are residents of Kaduna, Kano, Bauchi, and Gombe states.
According to Mbah, the TCN’s engineering team is set to begin repairs on the second 330kV transmission line, with all necessary materials already in place to ensure speedy completion of the exercise.
Expectedly, the restoration of electricity in the affected states has sparked unending celebrations among residents with many, especially women and children seen openly jubilating that their days of perpetually remaining in darkness is now over.
Also commenting on the latest development, the Head of Corporate Communications, Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Sani Bala, was upbeat that things and businesses are returning to normal in most of the areas affected by the power outage across the Kano State and beyond.
He disclosed that at about 5.29 hours on Wednesday, the Mando transmission station in Kaduna received supply via 330kV Ugwuaji-Makurdi-Jos line 1 and at 5.54 hours supply was restored to Kumbotso transmission station in 10.0MW.
The KEDCO Spokesperson further stated thus; “Gradually, the megawatts are increasing as we are now on 40MW and we have started picking loads on 11kV and 33kV lines.”
Meanwhile, it has been celebration galore in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital as residents applauded the restoration of electricity supply to most of the affected areas, even as reports also indicated that flashes of power restoration were witnessed in some areas around Jalingo, the Taraba State capital
A Jalingo resident, Yau Ibrahim told Daily Trust that power was also restored for just a few seconds in the Road Block area and about two minutes in Mile Six before the areas witnessed blackout again.
For now, residents of Jalingo and surrounding areas are still in darkness, but hoping that the TCN would keep its promise of putting a stop to the prolonged outages that have become a recurring decimal across various states in the north geo-political zones.
