Total power outage Plunges Rivers, Bayelsa, Imo Into Darkness

Residents and businesses across Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo states have been thrown into darkness following a major power outage caused by a fault on a key transmission line operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

The outage occurred in the early hours of Tuesday after the Alaoji 132-kilovolt transmission line suffered an earth fault and a distance protection failure, disrupting the flow of electricity to several communities within the three states.

In a statement issued by TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, the company disclosed that the incident happened at about 3:59 a.m. and immediately affected power supply to customers served by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).

According to the statement, the fault prevented PHEDC from receiving bulk electricity from the national grid for onward distribution to customers in Owerri, the capital of Imo State; Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State; and Ahoada in Rivers State.

The development has left many households, businesses and public institutions without electricity, raising concerns among residents who rely heavily on power for daily activities and commercial operations. Small-scale business owners, artisans and traders are expected to feel the impact of the outage, especially in areas where alternative sources of power are expensive.

TCN said its engineers and maintenance personnel were immediately deployed to the affected transmission line after the fault was detected. The company noted that repair work is ongoing and that efforts are being intensified to ensure the restoration of normal electricity supply as quickly as possible.

The agency assured electricity consumers that it is working round the clock to resolve the technical issues responsible for the disruption. It also appealed for patience and understanding from affected residents while repairs continue.

The latest outage comes as many Nigerians continue to grapple with unstable electricity supply and frequent power interruptions in several parts of the country. Energy experts have repeatedly called for increased investment in transmission infrastructure to reduce faults and improve the reliability of power supply nationwide.T

CN expressed regret over the inconvenience caused by the blackout and reiterated its commitment to restoring the affected transmission line and returning electricity supply to normal in Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo states.