The Transmission Company of Nigeria has alerted the public to a deliberate shutdown of the national grid by the Labour Union, leading to a widespread blackout across the country.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah in a statement said the grid shutdown occurred at approximately 2:19 am on the morning of June 3, 2024.
Reports indicate that the Benin Transmission Operator, operating under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN, experienced staff being forcibly removed from the control room at around 1:15 am.
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Some employees were allegedly assaulted during this incident, resulting in the Benin Area Control Center being brought to a standstill without proper supervision.
Multiple transmission substations, including Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo, were also shut down by the Labour Union. Additionally, certain transmission lines were opened as part of the union’s activities.
The forced shutdown of power generating units at various generating stations, such as the Jebba Generating Station, further exacerbated the situation. The grid ultimately collapsed at 2:19 am due to high frequency and system instability caused by the sudden load cuts.
Efforts to restore the grid commenced at 3:23 am, with the TCN initiating grid recovery using the Shiroro Substation to supply electricity to transmission lines feeding the Katampe Transmission Substation. However, the Labour Union’s obstruction continues to impede nationwide grid recovery.
The TCN said it remains committed to restoring and stabilizing the grid to facilitate the resumption of normal bulk electricity transmission to distribution centers across the country.
