TCN Announces Outage on Benin–Ajaokuta Transmission Line
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced a scheduled outage on the Benin–Ajaokuta 330kV transmission line to enable ongoing restringing works at the Ihovbor power plant turn-in/turn-out transmission substation.
In a statement issued by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the company disclosed that the project commenced on Friday, February 27, 2026, and is expected to continue through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. The daily outage will run from 8:00am to 6:00pm throughout the construction period.
According to TCN, the exercise is necessary to allow its contractor to proceed with the restringing of the 330kV transmission line connected to the Ihovbor power plant. The company explained that temporary power interruptions are required because the transmission line crosses major highways along the Benin–Ajaokuta axis, necessitating strict safety measures during the works.
TCN stated that relevant road safety agencies have been duly notified and will be on standby to manage traffic and ensure public safety during the period of construction.
As a result of the outage, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) will be unable to supply electricity to customers in the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Oluku, Egba, and Ihovbor environs for up to 10 hours daily. The affected areas are expected to experience interruptions between 8:00am and 6:00pm each day while the works are ongoing.
However, the transmission company clarified that restringing activities will be suspended daily at 6:00pm, after which supply to the affected feeders will be restored. This arrangement, it said, will enable BEDC to off-take electricity and provide supply to the impacted communities from 6:00pm until 8:00am the following day.
TCN apologised for any inconvenience the temporary outage may cause to electricity consumers in the affected areas. It assured customers that full bulk power supply to the distribution company would be restored upon completion of the project at the end of March.
The company reiterated that the project forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and maintain the integrity of the national grid infrastructure, particularly critical transmission lines linked to major power generation assets.
