TCN Announces One-Month Power Outage for Transmission Line Maintenance in Benin-Ajaokuta Corridor
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has officially announced a planned temporary power outage on the Benin-Ajaokuta 330kV transmission line to facilitate ongoing restringing works at the Ihovbor Power Plant Turn-In/Turn-Out Transmission Substation. This critical maintenance project is scheduled to run daily from February 27 to March 31, 2026, with operations taking place between 8:00am and 6:00pm each day.
Details of the Maintenance Schedule and Affected Areas
In a statement signed by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager of Public Affairs, TCN confirmed that the project began on Friday, February 27, 2026, and will continue until Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The temporary shutdown is necessary to enable contractors to proceed with the restringing of the 330kV transmission line connected to the Ihovbor Power Plant.
As a direct result of this maintenance exercise, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company will be unable to supply electricity to customers in several key areas for up to 10 hours daily during the construction period. The affected locations include UNIBEN, Oluku, Egba, and the Ihovbor environs. TCN has clarified that restringing activities will be suspended daily at 6:00pm, allowing BEDC to restore power to impacted areas from 6:00pm to 8:00am the following day.
Safety Measures and Public Apology
TCN explained that the project will involve temporary power interruptions because sections of the transmission line cross major highways along the Benin-Ajaokuta corridor. The company has informed relevant road safety agencies, who will be on standby to ensure the safety of motorists and residents throughout the exercise.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria has apologized for any inconvenience the scheduled outage may cause and has assured customers that full bulk power supply to the distribution company will resume immediately upon completion of the project. The company emphasized that this maintenance is essential for improving the reliability and efficiency of the national grid infrastructure.
Broader Context of Nigeria's Power Challenges
This planned outage comes amid ongoing nationwide power challenges in Nigeria. According to recent reports from the Nigerian Independent System Operator, current nationwide power outages are primarily due to inadequate gas supply to thermal electricity generation plants.
The grid operator noted that average available power generation has fallen to approximately 4,300 megawatts, significantly below the country's installed capacity. Thermal stations require roughly 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet of gas daily but are receiving less than 43% of what is needed.
NISO explained that this shortfall is largely due to fuel constraints affecting gas-fired plants that supply the bulk of electricity to the national grid. The situation began after maintenance activities by the NNNPC and Seplat Energy, which reportedly forced load shedding across the country.
TCN's maintenance project represents a proactive effort to address infrastructure challenges, though it temporarily adds to the power supply difficulties experienced by residents in the affected areas. The company maintains that this work is crucial for long-term grid stability and improved electricity delivery across Nigeria.
