By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared a Force Majeure Event on the 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Transmission Line following the collapse of a transmission tower caused by heavy winds and rainstorms.
The development has affected the transmission of bulk electricity through the strategic Kainji–Birnin Kebbi transmission corridor, prompting the company to begin emergency arrangements to restore the damaged infrastructure.
TCN said the incident began at about 10:44 p.m. on Monday, September 7, 2026, when the 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Transmission Line tripped.
According to the company, a trial reclosure was attempted at 11:07 p.m., but the line tripped again, raising concerns about a possible fault along the transmission corridor.
Following the second trip, linesmen from TCN’s Birnin Kebbi Sub-Region embarked on a fault-finding patrol to identify the source of the problem.
The team subsequently discovered on Tuesday, September 8, that Tower T367 had collapsed.
Preliminary findings, TCN said, indicated that the collapse was caused by heavy winds and rainstorms experienced in the affected area.
“Consequently, and in view of the natural disaster that caused the damage, TCN hereby declares Force Majeure on the 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Transmission Line (2KNJ–BRK1),” the company said.
TCN said it had commenced arrangements to mobilise the necessary personnel, equipment and other resources to the affected location to facilitate the rehabilitation of the collapsed tower and restore the transmission line to service within the shortest possible time.
The company, however, assured electricity consumers that efforts had been made to minimise the impact of the incident on power supply to affected areas.
It disclosed that electricity transmission to Sokoto had been successfully maintained by enabling the Talata Mafara–Sokoto corridor to receive supply through an alternative transmission route from the Kaduna–Mando axis via the 132kV Zaria–Funtua–Gusau transmission line.
TCN expressed regret over the inconvenience the development might cause electricity consumers and other stakeholders.
The company assured the public that every possible effort was being deployed to rehabilitate the collapsed tower and restore normal bulk power transmission services as quickly as possible.
The incident adds to the challenges facing Nigeria’s power transmission infrastructure, particularly the vulnerability of transmission facilities to extreme weather conditions and other disruptions across the national grid.
