Electricity consumers across seven northern states are set to face weeks of intermittent power disruptions following a planned outage on a major transmission line.
The Nigerian Independent System Operator announced that the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line will undergo scheduled outages from April 9 to May 22, 2026, affecting parts of Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states.
According to the operator, the outages will occur weekly from Thursday to Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., as part of efforts to upgrade the national grid infrastructure.
“This outage is necessary to facilitate the installation of Optical Ground Wire fibre optic infrastructure along the line,” the agency stated.
The upgrade is aimed at improving grid performance through enhanced SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) and Energy Management Systems capabilities, which are critical for real-time monitoring, fault detection and efficient load balancing.
Limited Alternative Supply
While alternative supply will be routed through 132kV lines, the operator warned that capacity constraints would lead to reduced electricity availability during the outage periods.
“Due to inherent network constraints and limited capacity on these lines, customers may experience reduced power supply,” the notice explained.
The system operator said it is working with stakeholders, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria and regional distribution companies, to minimise the impact on consumers.
Long-Term Gains Expected
Despite the short-term disruptions, the upgrade is expected to significantly improve electricity reliability in the region by strengthening grid intelligence and operational efficiency.
Key benefits include improved quality of supply, faster fault detection and restoration, better load management, and enhanced coordination across the transmission network.
The fibre optic installation will also reinforce the telecommunications backbone required for modern grid operations, a critical step in addressing Nigeria’s persistent power challenges.
The development reflects ongoing efforts to modernise the country’s electricity infrastructure, particularly in underserved regions, even as consumers continue to grapple with frequent supply interruptions.
The agency apologised for the inconvenience, urging residents to remain patient as the project is expected to deliver more stable and efficient power supply in the long run.
Advertisement
