Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced the successful restoration of the Alaoji–Owerri 132kV Transmission Lines 1 and 2, following a two-day outage that disrupted bulk electricity supply to Imo State, Bayelsa State, and parts of Rivers State. According to a statement issued by the company's General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the two lines were re-energised at 7:05 p.m. and 7:06 p.m. respectively on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, restoring full operational capacity along the critical transmission corridor.
The transmission lines tripped on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, affecting electricity supply to the three states. Upon identification of the fault location, TCN's maintenance crew immediately mobilised to the site and commenced repair works. Following the successful repair of the fault on Line 1, the line was restored to service at approximately 7:25 p.m. on Tuesday, enabling partial restoration of bulk electricity transmission to Imo State, Bayelsa State (Yenagoa), and parts of Rivers State (Ahoda).
However, to facilitate the safe repair of Line 2, it became necessary to temporarily de-energise Line 1. According to the company, the close proximity of the two high-voltage transmission lines could induce electromagnetic induction on the faulty line when the adjacent line remained energised, posing a safety risk to TCN's maintenance engineers. The temporary outage of Line 1 was approved by the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and undertaken with the concurrence of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC). This precautionary measure provided the safe working space required for TCN engineers to complete repairs and restore Line 2 to service.
With the successful restoration of both transmission lines, the Alaoji–Owerri transmission corridor is now fully operational, allowing EEDC and PHEDC to offtake full load for onward distribution to their customers. The company expressed appreciation for the patience and understanding of electricity consumers affected by the outage, and regretted the inconvenience caused. It reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a reliable and efficient transmission network for the evacuation and delivery of bulk electricity across the country.
The Alaoji–Owerri transmission corridor is a vital link in Nigeria's power grid, serving as a major conduit for electricity generated from the Alaoji Power Station and other generation sources to the South-East and South-South regions. The corridor includes the Alaoji 330/132kV substation in Abia State and the Owerri 132/33kV substation in Imo State. Transmission lines along the corridor traverse challenging terrain across multiple states, making maintenance and repair operations particularly complex. The Alaoji-Owerri route is part of the Abuja-Owerri 330kV transmission line, which was commissioned in October 2023 and runs over 400 kilometres, with 211 towers crossing through Kogi, Edo, Anambra, and Imo States.
The restoration of the lines comes as the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Thursday announced a slight increase in electricity tariffs, effective July 1, 2026, raising rates from N293.20 to N302.77 per kilowatt-hour for Band A customers. The tariff review, aimed at addressing inflation, currency depreciation, and rising gas prices, may put additional pressure on consumers who have endured disrupted supply in recent days. Stakeholders in the power sector have welcomed the restoration, but emphasised the need for sustained investment in transmission infrastructure to prevent recurring outages and ensure stable electricity supply to homes and businesses.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments