The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, announced on Monday that electricity will be restored within five days to the 17 northern states affected by the recent blackout. The power outage was caused by vandalism of the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, a crucial link supplying electricity to the northern region.
Speaking to State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu in Abuja, Adelabu explained that the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, one of the main lines powering northern Nigeria, was severely damaged by vandalism. Repairs are expected to be completed in three to five days, with President Tinubu directing top security officials, including the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Chief of Defence Staff, and the Chiefs of Army and Air Staff, to ensure the safety of personnel working on the transmission line.
“With full security provided, TCN staff and contractors will be able to confidently carry out repairs,” Adelabu said. “We appeal to our northern brothers and sisters to bear with us, as power will soon be restored. It is crucial that we all work together to protect our national grid from further vandalism.”
Adelabu also noted that the Federal Executive Council had approved an upgrade to the Shiroro-Kaduna line, one of Nigeria’s oldest transmission lines, to improve its stability. Once completed, the upgrade is expected to provide the northern region with more reliable electricity.
To further support affected customers, Adelabu committed to a meeting with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and electricity distribution companies to ensure that residents in the North are not billed during the blackout period.
The minister shed light on recent grid collapses, revealing that two occurred due to a transformer explosion at the Jebba power plant. Prior to these incidents, the grid had remained stable for about four months. “The reality,” he explained, “is that we are dealing with an aging infrastructure—our national grid is over 50 years old, with weak transmission lines, deteriorating towers, and outdated substations and transformers. The transformer that failed in Jebba was 47 years old. While we are working to replace these components, it’s a gradual process.”
Until a complete overhaul is achieved, the ministry remains committed to managing the grid to minimize further disruptions.
