By Femi Fabunmi
Four states in North-East region of Nigeria namely, Taraba, Adamawa, Borno, and Yobe have all been plunged into total darkness following a major power outage that began at exactly 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to the authorities, the blackout is expected to linger on until Saturday evening thus creating several days of darkness in those North East states.
Already, the power cut is severely affecting businesses, hospitals, schools, homes, and other important daily activities across the affected states.o
According to an official statement, the Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) said the outage was caused by ongoing critical upgrade works being carried out by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The upgrades involve maintenance and installation work on the Jos-Gombe 330kV and Jos-Bauchi-Gombe 132kV transmission lines, which are key parts of the electricity supply system in the region.
YEDC further stated that the project includes the replacement of old structures and the installation of new power towers at the Bauchi 330kV station.
Additionally, a 132kV line is being rerouted as part of efforts to improve long-term electricity supply and reliability.
Due to this ongoing project, several key cities and towns such as Damaturu (Yobe State), Molai (Borno State), Yola (Adamawa State), and Jalingo (Taraba State) are now without power.
The statement further stated that Injection substations in these locations have been temporarily shut down and will remain out of service until the maintenance work is completed.
However, in a bid to reduce the hardship caused by the blackout, both TCN and YEDC have arranged for temporary alternative power supply routes for some communities.
For example, Biu will now receive electricity from the Dadi Kowa Hydro Power Plant. Maiduguri’s Baga Road substation will be powered through the MEPP (Maiduguri Emergency Power Project) facility.
Also, areas like Nguru, Machina, and nearby communities will be supplied electricity through the 33kV Nguru feeder line.
Residents in the affected states have been urged to remain patient and make necessary arrangements to cope during the outage period. Authorities have assured the public that all efforts are being made to complete the work on time and restore full power supply.
