The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has refuted reports suggesting a nationwide grid collapse, clarifying that the recent power disruption was due to the tripping of transmission lines, which affected parts of the country, particularly the Lagos axis.
In a statement titled “Benin-Omotosho Line Tripping, Not System Collapse,” the TCN explained that the incident, which occurred at 1:41 p.m. on Friday, was inaccurately reported by some media outlets as a total grid collapse.
“TCN hereby states that the nation’s grid did not experience any collapse today, contrary to the widely-published misinformation in the media,” the statement read.
According to the company, the power disruption began when the Oshogbo-Ihovbor transmission line tripped, which subsequently caused the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line. This resulted in temporary disruptions in power supply to Lagos and surrounding areas.
“At about 13:41 hours (1:41 p.m.), the Oshogbo-Ihovbor line tripped, followed by the tripping of the Benin-Omotosho line. This consequently affected bulk supply to only the Lagos axis alone,” TCN stated.
Providing further details, the TCN disclosed that power generation at the time of the incident was 4,335.63MW. Following the tripping of the lines, total generation temporarily dropped to 2,573.23MW. However, the company assured the public that the grid itself remained operational during this period.
The affected transmission facilities included Egbin, Olorunsogo, Omotosho, Geregu, and Paras, all of which have since been restored except for the Benin-Omotosho 330KV line, where restoration efforts are ongoing.
The TCN used the opportunity to caution against the dissemination of inaccurate information, which could cause unnecessary panic and misrepresentation of the state of the country’s power infrastructure.
“As TCN continues to work hard to put in place a robust transmission grid in spite of prevailing challenges, it is imperative that we understand the negative impact of deliberately misinforming the public and the value of disseminating true and verifiable facts,” the statement concluded.
The company reiterated its commitment to improving the reliability of the transmission network, assuring Nigerians of its determination to address challenges and ensure stable power supply across the country.
This clarification comes amidst public concerns about power supply reliability and underscores the importance of accurate reporting to foster public confidence in the nation’s energy infrastructure.
Saifullahi Muhammad
