North faces 8th day without electricity as hardship deepens
Residents, business owners, hospital administrators, and others in Northern Nigeria are voicing concerns as the region enters its eighth consecutive day without electricity, causing significant disruptions to essential services and economic activities.
The outage, which began last Monday, was triggered by the tripping of the 330kV circuit transmission line between Benue and Enugu, as well as the line between Shiroro and Kaduna, severely affecting several Northern states.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported that the 330kV DC Ugwaji-Apir double circuit tripped due to a fault, plunging the Northeast, Northwest, and parts of Northcentral Nigeria into darkness.
Hospitals and laboratories, which rely heavily on stable electricity for medical equipment and diagnostic services, are encountering increasing challenges, leading to delays and reduced healthcare availability for patients.
Local businesses, especially frozen food vendors dependent on refrigeration, are also feeling the pressure, with many reporting substantial losses from spoiled inventory.
Water vendors have sharply raised their prices, effectively doubling the cost of water as they cope with the extra expenses of running generators for boreholes.
Meanwhile, vandals have reportedly exploited the situation, targeting transformers and other power infrastructure, complicating efforts to restore service.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has acknowledged the ongoing outage and assured residents that they are taking “every possible measure” to restore power to the Northern region. The company cited infrastructure challenges, worsened by vandalism and insecurity, as factors contributing to delays in the restoration process.
This recent fault in the 330kV DC transmission line comes just days after Nigeria experienced three national grid collapses within a single week.
In 2024, the country has faced multiple national grid disturbances, leading to widespread power outages and decreased electricity generation.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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