KEY POINTS
- Minister Adelabu announced that electricity will be restored to Northern Nigeria within 72 hours via the Ugwuaji-Makurdi transmission line.
- Insurgents vandalized the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, prompting President Tinubu to deploy security forces for repair protection.
- Complete power restoration is expected within 14 days, once full access to the damaged grid is secured.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, assured the Senate on Tuesday that electricity will be restored to the northern region within 72 hours following recent outages.
The announcement comes amid widespread power disruptions in the North-East, North-West, and parts of north-central Nigeria after a key transmission line was sabotaged.
Government deploys security, vows 72-hour power restoration after insurgent sabotage
According to Punch, Adelabu addressed the upper legislative chamber, emphasizing the government’s commitment to swiftly resolving the power crisis that has left millions without electricity.
He revealed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported the incident on October 22, attributing the blackout to the tripping of the 330-kilovolt (kV) Ugwaji-Apir double circuit transmission lines 1 and 2, which supply electricity to large portions of the region.
“The line supplying power to the North through the Shiroro-Kaduna route was vandalized by insurgents,” Adelabu explained. He added that the government has deployed security forces to secure the area and ensure safe access for repair teams.
This directive was given by President Bola Tinubu, who urged the military to prioritize the protection of workers in the affected zones. As an interim solution, Adelabu disclosed that electricity would be temporarily supplied through an alternate route, the Ugwuaji-Makurdi transmission line.
He noted that this line is capable of covering approximately 80% of the states impacted by the outage, mitigating the immediate effects of the incident. “Power will be restored to the North in the next two to three days,” Adelabu stated confidently. “The Ugwuaji-Makurdi transmission line will serve as a temporary measure while repairs are ongoing.”
Minister pledges full power restoration in two weeks
Adelabu assured the Senate that efforts are being coordinated with security agencies to access and restore the compromised grid infrastructure.
He outlined that once the area is fully accessible, repair work will commence promptly, with a complete restoration of power expected within two weeks. “We are working closely with security personnel to access the grid currently occupied by vandals,” the minister said. “I assure you that within the next 14 days, the repairs will be completed, and power will be fully restored to the North.” The minister’s address came on the heels of growing concerns over frequent grid collapses and power interruptions across the country.
He stressed that the government is committed to implementing comprehensive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
The power outage in the North has sparked widespread disruptions to businesses, healthcare facilities, and daily life in affected areas. In response to the incident, President Tinubu directed that special security measures be implemented to ensure a swift restoration of electricity to the region.
Additionally, the government has pledged compensation for affected users in band A, signaling its recognition of the inconvenience faced by residents. As the repairs get underway, the successful restoration of power to the North will be a significant test of the government’s resolve to tackle the persistent challenges plaguing Nigeria’s electricity sector.
