The Transmission Company of Nigeria has said the recent power outage affecting parts of Kaduna State was caused by the collapse of a transmission tower, following heavy rainfall and windstorm.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, confirmed that the affected structure — tower No. 7 — collapsed on September 18 in the Rigasa community along the Kaduna Town Line I and II.
“TCN wishes to inform residents of Kaduna State that tower No. 7 along the Kaduna town line I and II in Rigasa community collapsed on Sept. 18, due to severe downpour and windstorm,” Mbah stated.
She explained that the collapse disrupted the transmission of bulk electricity to some of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) load centres, particularly those supplying power to parts of Kaduna South.
While inspecting the site, TCN engineers found evidence of vandalism, which further weakened the tower structure. “TCN’s linesmen discovered that vandals had carted away some of the tower members, making it susceptible to collapse,” she said.
“The incident primarily affected power supply to parts of Kaduna South, causing power interruption in some communities,” Mbah added.
To reduce the impact of the outage, TCN has recommended that KAEDCO link its 33 kilovolt (kV) Mogadishu feeder with the 33kV Abakwa feeder, allowing electricity customers in Mogadishu to regain access to supply.
According to Mbah, unaffected areas include Kinkinau, Yan Tukwane, Kabala West, Unguwan Muazu, and Kaduna North, which continue to receive normal electricity supply.
She noted that TCN engineers are already working at the site, dismantling the damaged components to begin the reconstruction process.
“We apologise for the inconvenience the incident has caused the affected customers in Southern Kaduna, and we sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding as we continue to work round the clock to build a new tower,” Mbah said.
“Please note that every effort is being made to minimise the duration of the outage,” she added.
