The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced a temporary shutdown of a critical transmission line for emergency maintenance, leading to expected blackouts for millions of electricity consumers across Northern Nigeria. The planned outage affects Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Yobe states, while communities in neighbouring Niger Republic that rely on electricity supplied through Nigeria's national grid will also experience disruptions.
In a statement issued by TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah, the company explained that the interruption became necessary to allow engineers to carry out urgent maintenance work on the Mando-Kumbotso 330kV transmission line, one of the major power corridors serving the North-West and parts of the North-East. According to TCN, the maintenance exercise involves the replacement and adjustment of a damaged Red Phase Conductor on Tower T187 along the transmission route.
Kano, Katsina and Jigawa among the hardest hit
As a result of the maintenance work, the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) will temporarily lose supply from the national grid, affecting electricity distribution across Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states. Parts of Bauchi and Yobe states are also expected to experience power interruptions during the maintenance period. In addition, the town of Gazaoua in the Republic of Niger, which receives electricity through Nigeria’s transmission infrastructure, will be impacted. TCN said the exercise is scheduled to commence at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., creating a seven-hour disruption across the affected areas.
Outage comes amid expectations of improved supply
The announcement comes at a time when Nigeria’s power sector is under heightened public scrutiny following recent assurances by the newly appointed Minister of Power that Nigerians would begin to see measurable improvements in electricity supply within 14 days. The minister had acknowledged longstanding challenges facing the sector, including ageing infrastructure, transmission bottlenecks, vandalism, and inadequate generation capacity. He nevertheless promised immediate interventions aimed at improving power delivery nationwide. The latest outage is likely to test public confidence in those promises, particularly in Northern Nigeria, where businesses and households continue to struggle with inconsistent electricity supply.
Experts back preventive maintenance
Industry experts argue that routine maintenance remains essential for preventing more serious technical failures. Power systems analyst Bashiru Yakubu noted that scheduled maintenance, although inconvenient, is preferable to unexpected breakdowns that can leave entire regions without electricity for extended periods. “The challenge is not necessarily the maintenance itself, but ensuring that such interventions are communicated effectively and completed within schedule. Consumers are more concerned about whether power will return immediately after the exercise,” he said.
Businesses and residents brace for disruptions
The outage is expected to affect commercial activities in Kano, one of Nigeria’s largest economic centres. Small manufacturers, ICT hubs, cold-room operators, welders, and other electricity-dependent businesses may be forced to rely on generators, increasing operational costs. Residents have also expressed concerns as soaring temperatures across many northern states continue to drive demand for cooling systems and refrigeration. Despite the inconvenience, TCN maintains that the maintenance exercise is necessary to strengthen the reliability and safety of power transmission infrastructure. For many consumers, however, the key question remains whether electricity will return as scheduled and whether the government’s promised improvements in power supply will soon become visible.
Tags: Power Holding Company Of Nigeria - PHCN, Jigawa State, Kano State
