The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has begun the accelerated reconstruction of three collapsed high-voltage transmission towers along the critical 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi line, in a bid to restore power to affected northern communities and stabilise the national grid.
The towers, which collapsed on May 8, 2025, near Yauri town in Kebbi State, caused widespread outages in Kebbi and parts of Kaduna State, prompting emergency interventions from both TCN and the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric).
In a statement released on Saturday by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the company revealed that it has mobilised three contractors to the site—each assigned to rebuild one of the damaged towers. This multi-contractor deployment strategy, according to TCN, is designed to fast-track the reconstruction process and minimise the duration of outages.
To cushion the effects of the disruption, Mbah said TCN activated an alternate 132kV transmission route—the Mando-Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-Talata Mafara-Sokoto-Birnin Kebbi line—which is currently supplying between 6 to 7 megawatts of bulk electricity to Sokoto and Birnin Kebbi. The line feeds from the Mando Transmission Substation in Kaduna State.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of affected communities as contractors work round the clock under the supervision of our engineers. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused and assure Nigerians of our commitment to restoring full transmission capacity as swiftly as possible,” she said.
The incident is the latest in a string of infrastructure challenges plaguing the Kainji–Birnin Kebbi transmission corridor. Since 2024, the line has experienced multiple outages, drawing attention to the need for strategic grid reinforcement in the North-West region.
Industry experts have cited vandalism, aging infrastructure, and harsh weather conditions as recurrent threats to Nigeria’s fragile power transmission framework. While TCN continues to invest in substation upgrades and transmission expansion, the pace of infrastructure deterioration often outpaces repair efforts.
A senior power sector analyst, Engr. Matthew Ado, told our correspondent in a phone interview that, “This corridor is vital for evacuating power from the Kainji hydropower station to northern states. Any collapse affects not just households but critical infrastructure like hospitals and water plants. There’s an urgent need for transmission redundancy.”
Meanwhile, Kaduna Electric confirmed the development and its impact on distribution operations via a statement by its Head of Corporate Communication, Abdulaziz Abdullahi. The company assured customers that it is collaborating closely with TCN to monitor repairs and resume normal supply.
“We sincerely apologise to our esteemed customers in Birnin Kebbi for the prolonged outage due to the collapse of three transmission towers near Yauri. TCN engineers are already working on-site, and power will be restored as soon as feasible,” the statement read.
The collapse underscores broader concerns about power infrastructure security. TCN, in recent months, has ramped up surveillance and patrols around transmission assets, while also calling for stronger collaboration with host communities to protect critical installations.
In 2024 alone, over 15 transmission towers across the country were reportedly damaged due to sabotage or environmental factors. The Federal Government has since directed increased funding for the rehabilitation and upgrade of transmission networks under the Presidential Power Initiative.
Power sector observers have commended TCN’s swift response to the Kebbi incident, noting that coordinated contractor engagement and community sensitisation are vital for mitigating future risks.
TCN has reiterated its commitment to delivering reliable bulk electricity across the country, stating that the prompt reconstruction of the towers aligns with its mandate to ensure grid stability and minimise downtimes.
The company also urged electricity consumers to report suspicious activities around power infrastructure, especially in remote areas, where vandalism tends to thrive due to limited surveillance.
As efforts continue to restore power in affected states, residents of Kebbi and Kaduna remain hopeful that the swift reconstruction initiative will return electricity supply to normalcy in the coming days.