The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced a partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to address the widespread power outages in Northern Nigeria.
These outages are due to the vandalism of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, which has disrupted bulk electricity supply to major cities including Kaduna and Kano.
In a statement, Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, highlighted that the ongoing outages, which began last Monday, were caused by sabotage to critical infrastructure. She emphasized that TCN is working swiftly to restore power despite prevailing security risks.
“Engr. Nafisatu Ali, during a recent address, noted that the Shiroro-Kaduna line, a vital power supply route, was targeted by insurgents. In response, TCN has enlisted the support of the NSA to secure the area, ensuring our engineers can work safely,” Mbah stated. Ali further dispelled rumors that repairs would be delayed indefinitely, assuring that security arrangements are underway to enable restoration.
As a temporary solution, TCN rerouted power through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV line, though this line recently experienced a fault as well.
Meanwhile, the National Council for Civil Society Organisations (NACSSO) has opposed calls for the dismissal of TCN’s Managing Director, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, amid mounting frustrations over the outages. NACSSO President, Comrade Johnny Emmanuel, condemned the push for Abdulaziz’s removal, calling it “unpatriotic” and cautioning that it could worsen the situation.
“The smear campaign against TCN’s MD, Sule Abdulaziz, is an attempt to tarnish his reputation,” Emmanuel said. “Despite challenges, he has shown commitment to stabilizing Nigeria’s power supply and has worked closely with the Army to address security issues affecting infrastructure in the region.”
Emmanuel urged citizens to remain patient with the ongoing efforts to restore electricity and cautioned against politicizing the grid collapse.