Rainstorm Forces TCN Shutdown On Ikeja–Osogbo Line As Tower Collapses, Disrupts Energy Transmission
The Transmission Firm of Nigeria (TCN) has declared a pressure majeure on the Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV transmission line following a extreme rainstorm that broken essential infrastructure alongside the hall.
In an announcement issued on Sunday, signed by the Normal Supervisor, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the corporate mentioned the incident occurred on Thursday, April 16, 2026, when the transmission line tripped in the course of the storm resulting from a fault detected about 14.9 kilometres from the Ikeja West (Ayobo) finish of the road.
Subsequent inspection by TCN’s upkeep crew, the corporate revealed, confirmed that Tower 515 had collapsed beneath the impression of the storm, with the construction failing at its midsection, thereby disrupting energy movement alongside the affected line.
The declaration of pressure majeure signifies that the outage was brought on by circumstances past the management of the transmission operator, successfully limiting its capability to ensure regular operations on the road till repairs are accomplished.
TCN defined that it has commenced emergency response measures, together with the mobilisation of supplies and personnel to the positioning for the reconstruction of the broken tower. Engineers are at the moment working to dismantle the collapsed construction to pave the way in which for its re-erection, it mentioned.
Regardless of the setback, the corporate famous that bulk energy provide alongside the hall has not been solely reduce off, in its place transmission line stays in service, serving to to take care of some degree of system stability and energy evacuation capability.
The Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV line is a serious transmission route inside Nigeria’s nationwide grid, linking key substations and supporting electrical energy distribution throughout elements of the southwest. Disruptions alongside the axis can have an effect on grid flexibility and cut back redundancy, rising vulnerability to wider system disturbances.
TCN, nevertheless, assured stakeholders that efforts are ongoing to revive full operational capability to the road as rapidly as attainable. The corporate added that it’s working assiduously to reinstate redundancy within the hall, which is essential for sustaining grid reliability, particularly throughout peak demand durations.
It additional acknowledged that updates on the progress of the restore work could be communicated as restoration actions proceed.
“The Transmission Firm of Nigeria (TCN) needs to tell the general public {that a} pressure majeure has occurred on the Ikeja West – Osogbo 330kV transmission line following a extreme rainstorm on Thursday, 16 April 2026. The road tripped in the course of the storm, resulting from fault, which was detected at roughly 14.9km from the Ikeja West (Ayobo) finish of the transmission line.
“Additional inspection by TCN upkeep crews revealed that Tower No. 515 had collapsed in the course of the storm, with the construction giving means at its midsection. Whereas TCN is mobilising supplies and personnel for the re-erection of the fallen tower, efforts are at the moment ongoing by its engineers to dismantle the affected tower.
“We guarantee that we are going to work assiduously to revive flexibility and redundancy in that hall as various strains are nonetheless in service evacuating bulk energy. Updates shall be offered as work progresses,” it added.
In the meantime, the TCN has lauded the Government Director, Transmission Service Supplier (TSP), Dr. Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, and all normal managers of the ten areas of the TCN for his or her position in decreasing the Transmission Loss Issue (TLF) throughout the nation’s transmission community.
The Nigerian Electrical energy Regulatory Fee (NERC) had just lately mandated that the TCN additional cut back the grid transmission losses to a most of 6.5 per cent by December 31, 2026. This adopted a 7.24 per cent common in 2025 (down from 8.71 per cent in 2024). The brand new 6.5 per cent cap goals to curb electrical energy dissipated throughout transmission.
Managing Director/CEO of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, whereas declaring open a two-day quarterly assembly of the manager administrators, and all TCN normal managers in Abuja, described the achievement as proof that collective effort is producing measurable enhancements in system effectivity.
“This achievement displays not solely dedication to obligation but in addition demonstrates that our collective efforts are yielding measurable enhancements in system effectivity,” an announcement by the corporate mentioned.
Abdulaziz urged the crew to consolidate on the positive factors by delivering tangible enhancements in core operational and managerial efficiency, in key areas, together with the elimination of each avoidable losses, strengthening upkeep tradition and self-discipline, decreasing outages, and aligning regional operations with administration’s strategic path to construct a extra sturdy transmission community.
Abdulaziz additionally reaffirmed administration’s dedication to proceed to offer a conducive working setting, calling on employees to method the duties forward with renewed power, shared function, and steadfast dedication to obligation.
Earlier in his welcome tackle, the ED TSP, Ajiboye acknowledged that the assembly was convened to appraise firm efficiency, determine operational challenges, and set strategic plans for the long run.
Emmanuel Addeh
Times Nigeria