Electricity supply went out in parts of Rivers and Abia states on Monday, September 28, 2026, after members of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Rivers State Chapter, triggered a disruption at a critical transmission point during an ongoing labour dispute.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the incident in a statement, saying NUEE members opened the Afam–Alaoji 330kV Transmission Line 2 at the Alaoji 330kV Transmission Substation. The action was linked to a dispute between the union and the management of Afam IV Gas Power Station.
How the Blackout Unfolded
TCN said the opening of the line caused the 150MVA 330/132kV inter-bus transformer at Afam IV to trip, cutting off bulk electricity transmission to Port Harcourt and surrounding areas.
In its statement, TCN said: "The action is linked to an ongoing labour dispute involving the management of Afam IV Gas Power Station and NUEE. Consequently, the 150MVA 330/132kV inter-bus transformer at Afam IV tripped, affecting bulk electricity transmission to parts of Port Harcourt and its environs."
Three key facilities were identified as directly affected: the Port Harcourt Town 132kV Transmission Substation, the Elelenwo 132kV Transmission Substation, and the 60MVA 132/33kV transformer at the Port Harcourt Mains 132kV Transmission Substation, as reported by Vanguard. These facilities form part of the infrastructure that moves bulk power to distribution networks serving homes and businesses in the region.
TCN's Response and Apology
TCN said it is working with the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) and other relevant stakeholders to bring the affected infrastructure back online.
The company stated: "TCN is engaging relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), to restore the affected facilities as soon as conditions allow safe restoration."
No definite timeline for restoration was given, and TCN did not disclose the specific issues driving the labour dispute at Afam IV. The company apologised to consumers hit by the outage, adding that updates would follow as the situation developed.
It said: "TCN regrets the inconvenience caused to electricity consumers in the affected areas and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops."
DisCo Customers Get New Option to Borrow Electricity and Pay Later
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ikeja Electric has introduced a buy-now-pay-later electricity scheme that allows eligible customers to receive up to N20,000 worth of electricity units on credit before settling the cost at a later date.
The distribution company announced the new offering, called Energy Advance, through an official notice to its customers, describing it as a way to prevent unexpected power interruptions when units run out at difficult moments. The company said the service is designed to help households stay connected and individuals.
