The Nigerian Unbiased System Operator (NISO) on Thursday introduced a scheduled energy outage affecting Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states as a part of ongoing efforts to improve crucial transmission infrastructure.
In a public discover dated April 8, 2026, the system operator disclosed that the outage will happen on the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line from April 9 to Might 22, 2026. The disruption is anticipated to happen weekly from Thursday to Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
In accordance with NISO, the outage is critical to allow the set up of Optical Floor Wire (OPGW) fibre optic infrastructure alongside the transmission hall, a transfer aimed toward strengthening grid administration and operational effectivity.
The organisation defined that the improve will improve Supervisory Management and Knowledge Acquisition (SCADA), Power Administration Techniques (EMS), and telecommunications capabilities, thereby bettering real-time monitoring, fault detection, load balancing, and general electrical energy supply within the area.
Though energy provide will likely be maintained by way of accessible 132kV transmission strains in the course of the interval, NISO warned that clients within the affected states could expertise decreased provide on account of community constraints and restricted capability on the choice strains.
The system operator famous that it’s working intently with key stakeholders, together with Jos and Yola Distribution Corporations, in addition to the Transmission Firm of Nigeria (TCN), to minimise disruptions. It added that efforts are being made to handle outages throughout feeders, substations and buyer clusters throughout the specified timeframe.
NISO acknowledged that upon completion, the challenge is anticipated to considerably enhance the standard and reliability of electrical energy provide within the affected states. It additionally highlighted anticipated advantages resembling enhanced grid coordination, sooner fault restoration, improved system stability, higher integration of technology and cargo information, and a strengthened telecommunications spine for energy system operations.
The operator apologised for the inconvenience the outage could trigger and appealed for the understanding and cooperation of electrical energy shoppers as it really works to ship a extra environment friendly and resilient energy provide community.
“This improve is a part of ongoing efforts to reinforce grid operations by way of improved SCADA (Supervisory Management and Knowledge Acquisition), EMS (Power Administration Techniques), and telecommunications capabilities. It’s anticipated to strengthen real-time monitoring, fault detection, load balancing, and general power supply throughout the area.
“In the course of the outage interval, provide to the affected areas will likely be maintained by way of accessible 132kV transmission strains. Nonetheless, on account of inherent community constraints and restricted capability on these strains, clients could expertise decreased energy provide and repair limitations throughout the acknowledged outage window,” the assertion added.
In the meantime, the Presidency on Thursdaydefended the approval of a N3.3 trillion plan by President Bola Tinubu to settle verified legacy money owed owed to Energy Era Corporations (Gencos) between February 2015 and March 2025.
With N223 billion already disbursed and 15 energy vegetation signing settlement agreements totalling N2.3 trillion, the approval has generated controversy, because the opposition has framed the most recent pronouncement as ‘political’ and as Era Corporations (Gencos) in search of clarifications.
who requested Tinubu to make clear how the Federal Authorities arrived on the reported N3.3 trillion debt, elevating considerations over discrepancies between the determine and reconciled business data.
However in a submit on its official X deal with, the Presidency famous that the debt settlement approval was geared in the direction of addressing {financial} challenges within the energy sector, not a reward past service supply.
“The Federal Authorities of Nigeria is implementing a structured and balanced reform programme to deal with longstanding {financial} challenges within the energy sector. On the core of this effort is a market-based settlement mechanism designed to revive the sector, not reward collected claims that reach past verifiable service supply. The target is to make sure equity to operators whereas additionally defending the curiosity of the Nigerian public.
“Between 2015 and 2025, the sector collected roughly N4.7 trillion in claims throughout the electrical energy worth chain.
“Following a Presidential stakeholder assembly in July 2025, the place the claims of N4.7trillion had been introduced, a radical assessment was really helpful by President Bola Tinubu. On August 15, 2025, a N4 trillion fiscal cap was accredited by the Federal Government Council (FEC), following which a complete verification course of was undertaken to confirm claims.
“This resulted in a 30 per cent discount in claims, resulting in a ultimate negotiated settlement of N3.3 trillion, reflecting solely legitimate and contract-backed obligations.
‘‘To make sure sustainability and keep away from fiscal stress, the settlement is being carried out by way of a phased, market-based financing framework”, the assertion added.
In accordance with the Presidency, the whole envelope dimension of part 1 of N1.23 trillion will likely be carried out, whereas the disbursement of collection I of N501 billion raised from the home capital market, was already underway.
It confused that every one disbursements are phased and conditional, based mostly on verified claims, signed settlement agreements, and accomplished documentation, explaining that as of January 8, 2026, 5 Gencos protecting 14 energy vegetation had signed settlement offers valued at roughly N827 billion.
Emmanuel Addeh
Times Nigeria