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Govt Sets Nov 12 to Restore Northern Power

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By Samuel Abimbola

Electricity outage was due to vandalism and unrest in the affected region.

The national government has committed to reinstating electrical power across 17 northern states in Nigeria, where ongoing shutdowns have led to a serious energy crisis. The Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, assured senators that complete Electricity restoration would resume in 14 days and promised partial service recovery in three days. The outages have impacted almost every northern state, with Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, and Katsina experiencing the most severe effects. At the National Assembly, Adelabu addressed the extended power outage, attributing it to acts of vandalism and detailing the measures underway to address the situation.

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He disclosed that Law Enforcement Agencies are supporting the power grid restoration, which was compromised by vandals targeting the crucial Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line. Despite these challenges, Adelabu assured that northern states would receive a complete restoration of electricity once the repair work is finalised by November 12. Moreover, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has provided a different timeline. TCN Managing Director Sule Abdulaziz said all essential repairs might be finalised in five days to achieve partial restoration by November 3. During a press conference in Abuja, Abdulaziz mentioned that the TCN had also implemented temporary solutions to deliver 400 megawatts to select areas within a day.

Northern governors called for an investigation into alternative solutions.

Furthermore, he pointed to recent vandalism incidents along the Shiroro-Mando Line 1 as the main reason for the electricity outage, which also caused multiple other towers to fail. As Abdulaziz stated, the TCN’s repair initiatives faced challenges due to Security issues. Repair efforts were interrupted by bandits, who even besieged specific locations, resulting in delays in the restoration work. To address these safety risks, TCN engineers now operate under military protection and are restricted to working only during the daytime. TCN is dedicated to reinstating electricity and aims to deliver between 500 and 600 megawatts to the impacted northern areas by this Sunday.

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Moreover, the extended Power Outage has caused inconvenience for locals and raised demands for varied energy options throughout the northern region. On Monday, the governors from all 19 northern states appealed to the government to investigate Alternative Energy solutions to protect against similar incidents in the future. This extensive blackout, now continuing into its second week, has resulted in the majority of states in the north, barring Niger, being without power. To tackle the risk of impending outages, Abdulaziz outlined new security protocols that emphasise strong partnerships with community members and law enforcement agencies to protect critical infrastructure.

TCN called for community support amid efforts to address the blackout.

Therefore, he noted that local watch groups, along with the Nigerian police and Army, play a vital role in overseeing and guarding transmission lines. However, TCN has collaborated with landowners and involved the community by supplying transportation and communication resources to report suspicious behaviour. Abdulaziz pointed out the potential of increasing monitoring, recalling an earlier method used by the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), where helicopters were frequently utilised to oversee network assets. He remarked that although TCN suggested reintroducing aerial surveillance, the organisation still awaits funding authorisation for new helicopters.

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However, he further stressed that ensuring security is crucial due to the threats associated with vandalism. Despite aerial surveillance, gaining physical access to sites for repairs continues to be a major challenge because of persistent security issues. As a result, Minister Adelabu emphasised the need for tougher laws to combat vandalism and tackle the ongoing issues. He requested the National Assembly to fast-track a proposal that would classify the vandalism of electricity assets as a capital crime, suggesting that increased punishments would act as a deterrent. Additionally, Adelabu supported an outright prohibition on selling scrap metal, arguing that this industry encourages the theft and destruction of vital infrastructure.

Related Article: TCN pledges Northern electricity restoration

Adelabu further emphasised that the recent enhancement in power availability is not solely attributable to the rainy season, dispelling a common misunderstanding. The minister noted that only about 25 percent of the nation’s electricity is derived from hydroelectric sources, while the majority, around 75 percent, is generated by gas-fired thermal plants. He underscored that the consistency in electricity supply ranges from increased generation capabilities rather than environmental changes. He mentioned that while the newly launched Zungeru Power Plant has enhanced electricity generation, its capacity is still constrained to 300–400 megawatts because of current evacuation limitations, which the government is diligently attempting to address.

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