The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced a comprehensive maintenance project that will lead to extended power outages in Ondo and Ekiti states. This disruption is due to crucial upgrades on the 132kV Akure Osogbo transmission line, scheduled to last from July 1 to August 31.
The TCN plans to install Optical Ground Wire among other enhancements, necessitating daily blackouts spanning approximately nine hours. This extensive work aims to boost the reliability and efficiency of the power transmission infrastructure in these regions. However, the announcement has raised considerable concern among local businesses and residents, who are afraid about the economic and daily life disruptions this might cause.
The Nigeria Electricity Consumer Advocacy Network’s National Secretary, Uket Obonga, expressed deep concerns about the scheduled outage. He questioned why the implementation was not done in phases, as that may have lessened the financial impact. “Did they sit and figure out how much that action would cost the economies of those two states? Did they take into account everything, including the enterprises and economy of the states of Ondo and Ekiti?” Obonga enquired. In order to lessen the impact on local economies and day-to-day activities, he proposed that the maintenance be carried out in stages.
Additionally, there are questions about the necessity of disrupting aerial connections when much of the work involves underground installations. Obonga pointed out, “If you are going to do that, which is an underground thing, must you disrupt the aerial connections or networks? Can’t the aerial connections be there while you are laying the pipes on the ground?”
These concerns are compounded by the timing of the maintenance, which coincides with the rainy season. This could potentially extend the disruptions beyond the planned nine hours a day, possibly up to 24 hours, according to Obonga. Such an extension could have severe repercussions for the economic activities in both states, affecting everything from small businesses to larger industries.
Efforts to obtain further comments from TCN regarding these concerns were unsuccessful, leaving many questions unanswered for the residents and business owners of Ondo and Ekiti states. The lack of detailed communication and the potential for extended outages emphasize the need for better planning and engagement with the affected communities to minimize the impact of such essential maintenance works.
The public is urged to plan ahead for the impending interruptions and look for alternate alternatives to lessen the effects of the prolonged outages. Although maintenance has a significant immediate cost to the local populace, it is thought important for future stability and efficiency gains.
