Thousands of residents and businesses across Rivers, Bayelsa and Imo states have been plunged into darkness following a major fault on a critical transmission line operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The power outage occurred in the early hours of Tuesday after the Alaoji 132-kilovolt transmission line developed an earth fault alongside a distance protection system failure, disrupting electricity supply to several communities served by the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC).
In a statement issued by TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, the company disclosed that the incident happened at approximately 3:59 a.m., cutting off bulk power supply from the national grid to affected areas.
According to the statement, the fault prevented PHEDC from receiving electricity for onward distribution to major cities and communities, including Owerri in Imo State, Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, and Ahoada in Rivers State.
The disruption has left homes, businesses, government offices, and public institutions without electricity, creating fresh concerns over the reliability of power supply in the region. Small business owners, artisans, traders, and residents who depend on electricity for daily operations are expected to be among the hardest hit by the blackout.
TCN said its engineers and maintenance teams were immediately mobilised to the affected transmission corridor after the fault was detected. The company noted that repair works are currently underway and that efforts are being intensified to restore normal power supply as quickly as possible.
The agency assured customers that technical personnel are working around the clock to address the problem and minimise the duration of the outage.
“We regret the inconvenience caused by this disruption and appeal to affected customers for patience and understanding while repair efforts continue,” the company stated.
The latest blackout adds to ongoing concerns about Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, as consumers across the country continue to face frequent power interruptions and unstable electricity supply.
Energy experts have repeatedly called for increased investment in transmission infrastructure, arguing that modernisation and expansion of the national grid are necessary to reduce recurring faults and improve service delivery nationwide.
For now, residents and businesses across Rivers, Bayelsa, and Imo states remain hopeful that repairs will be completed swiftly and electricity restored to affected communities.
