BREAKING: Blackout Looms In Abuja As Vandals Wreck Shiroro-Katampe Power Line

Certain areas within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have experienced power outages due to the recent destruction of the 330-kilovolt Shiroro-Katampe Transmission Line by vandals.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement released Thursday evening.

She reported that the incident occurred around 11:43 PM on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, resulting in a supply disruption from the line to the grid.

Mbah further noted that a TCN patrol team sent to assess the situation found that vandals had removed a section of the conductor situated between towers T216 and T218.

She confirmed that a maintenance crew has been assigned to the site, and the restoration of the bulk power supply through the affected line is anticipated in the near future.

However, she did not provide a specific timeline for the restoration.

“A TCN lines patrol team was dispatched from the Abuja Regional office of TCN to investigate the cause of the fault. The team discovered that vandals had stolen part of the conductor between towers T216 and T218.

“The TCN lines maintenance crew has since mobilised to the site and is working assiduously to replace the vandalised 330kV power conductor. Restoration of bulk power supply through the affected line is expected soon,” Mbah noted.

Naija News understands that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company had issued two separate notifications regarding a power outage affecting various areas within the nation’s capital.

The impacted locations include the CBN Headquarters, Ecumenical Centre, Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, New Chelsea Hotel, Army War College, Reiz, Continental Hotel, NBS, Lozumba Complex, UTC, Gidan Isah, Area 10, and surrounding regions.

The outage extends to Katsina-Ala, Kila Close, Rudolf Close, La Street, Rima Street, Ekororo Street, Sand Link Street, Olufemi Street, Laih Street, and their adjacent areas.

Notably, on March 10, 2024, the Shiroro-Kaduna line was subjected to vandalism, marking the fifth such incident occurring between February and March of this year.