The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that power outages across parts of Northern Nigeria will persist due to security issues obstructing repairs on vital transmission lines.

Efforts to restore electricity via alternative routes have been hampered, with the TCN indicating that a full resolution will take some time.

The blackout, now over four days old, began after vandals damaged the Shiroro-Mando transmission line, a key supply route for northern states.

During a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) hearing, Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali, Executive Director of the Independent System Operator at TCN, explained that although the Ugwuaji-Apir line could transmit up to 750 megawatts (MW) of power, only 350 MW can currently be safely transmitted to Kano, Kaduna, and parts of Niger Republic due to voltage issues in Kano.

The Shiroro-Mando line remains inactive as the area where it was vandalized faces ongoing security risks. Despite having the materials ready for repair, TCN has received guidance from the National Security Adviser’s Office that the area is presently inaccessible.

Meanwhile, TCN is sharing a limited 250 MW with Niger Republic, and once the Ugwuaji-Apir line is restored, the maximum transmission capacity will reach only 350 MW for the region.

NERC Chairman, Garba Usman, expressed concern over TCN’s inability to prevent equipment failures, particularly transformer explosions, which have been a major cause of repeated outages.

He urged TCN to adopt stronger protective measures to prevent transformer fires that disrupt the grid.