Blackout As Electricity Workers Shut Down National Grid

In compliance with the joint directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to down tools on Monday over the new minimum wage, electricity workers have shut down the National Grid, resulting in nationwide blackout. This was disclosed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, on Monday morning. TCN said workers were driven away from their duty posts while others were beaten and wounded at some power facilities. It added that all its efforts at grid recovery were being frustrated by the unionists. “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby informs the general public that the Labour Union has shut down the national grid, resulting in black out nationwide. The national grid shut down occured at about 2.19am this morning, 3rd June 2024. “At about 1:15am this morning, the Benin Transmission Operator under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN reported that all operators were driven away from the control room and that staff that resisted were beaten while some were wounded in the course of forcing them out of the control room and without any form of control or supervision, the Benin Area Control Center was brought to zero. “Other transmission substations that were shut down, by the Labour Union include the Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba and Osogbo Transmission Substations. Some transmission lines were equally opened due to the ongoing activities of the labour union. “On the power generating side, power generating units from different generating stations were forced to shut down some units of their generating plants, the Jebba Generating Station was forced to shut down one of its generating units while three others in the same substation subsequently shut down on very high frequency. The sudden forced load cuts led to high frequency and system instability, which eventually shut down the national grid at 2:19am. “At about 3.23am, however, TCN commenced grid recovery, using the Shiroro Substation to attempt to feed the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. The situation is such that the labour Union is still obstructing grid recovery nationwide. “We will continue to make effort to recover and stabilize the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centres nationwide,” TCN stated.

Blackout Hits Parts Of Nigeria As Power Stations Collapse

Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Kogi State, are currently experiencing power outages due to the collapse of a power station. The two areas earlier mentioned are under the coverage of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). On Tuesday, the AEDC informed its customers in Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli and other parts of Abuja that a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station was responsible for the power outage. “The management of Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc wishes to notify its esteemed customers that there is currently a technical fault on 33kv feeder k6 from AT9 Karu Transmission Station, managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria. “The areas affected in Abuja are: Zamani Estate, Abacha Road Mararaba, Ruga Juli, Old Karu Road, Glory Estate, and environs,” the Disco said in a statement. The AEDC disclosed that the TCN maintenance crew was working to ensure the supply of electricity to these areas was restored soon, regretting any inconvenience caused. Earlier, the TCN had announced its maintenance crew would carry out planned maintenance on its TR3 45MVA and TR2 60MVA power transformers in its 132/33kV Okene Transmission Substation. The maintenance was scheduled to run from Tuesday to Wednesday, from 10 am to 03pm on each day.

Parts of Abuja to Experience 7-Hour Blackout

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is set to experience a seven-hour power outage on Saturday and Sunday. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said the disruption in electricity supply is due to a scheduled routine maintenance of the 132/33kV 2X100MVA power transformers at the Apo Transmission Substation. According to the TCN General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, affected areas include Garki, Asokoro, Lugbe, Airport Road, Gudu, Gaduwa, parts of Lokogoma, Apo, Kabusa, Guzape, and Nepa Junction. The maintenance activities are necessary to ensure the reliability and efficiency of power supply in these regions. The operations are planned to take place from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on both days, with the assurance that power supply will be restored each day by 4 pm. This planned power interruption is part of TCN’s ongoing efforts to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure to meet the increasing demand for electricity in the nation’s capital and its environs. While acknowledging the inconvenience this may cause to residents and businesses in the affected areas, TCN emphasizes the importance of these maintenance works in enhancing the stability and capacity of the power grid. Residents and businesses are advised to make necessary preparations to mitigate the impact of the power outage during the specified times.