The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has officially denied claims made by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EEDC) regarding an explosion at its Onitsha Sub-Region station, which some reports suggested caused the recent widespread power outage in parts of Anambra State and Oji River in Enugu State.
In a detailed statement issued on Thursday, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)spokesperson Ndidi Mbah stated that the company was “compelled to correct the misinformation recently published by EEDC on August 27, 2025, regarding the cause of the power outage in Anambra State and Oji River in Enugu State.”
The statement emphasized that there was no explosion at the Onitsha Sub-Region station, countering prior reports that had circulated among residents and news outlets.
According to Transmission Company of Nigeria, the partial power loss experienced on August 21, 2025, at approximately 2:34 a.m. was caused by an insulation flashover of a porcelain insulator (P1) of the red phase jumper conductor to bus bar 1, triggered by heavy rainfall in the region.
The company clarified that the event led to a temporary disruption in the 330kV switchyard at Onitsha but did not result in any explosion or destruction of switchgear equipment.
“Power was fully restored the same day at 17:54 hours, and a scheduled maintenance outage has already been planned for August 31 and September 1, 2025, to replace the stack porcelain insulators,” TCN said in its statement, adding that the situation was entirely technical and under control.
The company also urged EEDC to exercise due diligence in its communication with the public, warning against the spread of misinformation that could cause unnecessary alarm.
“Deliberate deception or propaganda is unprofessional and unacceptable,” the statement read.
The controversy erupted after electricity customers in Anambra State and parts of Enugu experienced a blackout in the early hours of Wednesday.
Many residents in Onitsha and surrounding towns reportedly panicked upon hearing what they believed was an explosion near the Awada area. EEDC, through its Group Head of Corporate Communications, Emeka Ezeh, had initially attributed the outage to a Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) facility explosion, which prompted widespread speculation on social media and local news platforms.
Experts in power transmission have explained that flashovers due to insulation failure during heavy rainfall are a known vulnerability in transmission networks.
A flashover occurs when an electrical discharge bridges the insulator surface, momentarily short-circuiting the system.
While serious if left unaddressed, it rarely causes explosions, especially in modern substations equipped with protective mechanisms like circuit breakers.
TCN’s clarification highlights ongoing challenges in public communication and coordination between transmission and distribution companies in Nigeria.
Analysts have emphasized the importance of accurate reporting to maintain public confidence and prevent unnecessary panic during technical disruptions.
“Incidents like this underscore the need for coordinated messaging and swift technical assessment,” said a power sector analyst in Lagos.
“While outages are sometimes unavoidable, misinformation about explosions or fires can erode trust and complicate emergency response efforts.”
As Nigeria continues to expand its power infrastructure and improve grid reliability, both TCN and EEDC face the critical task of enhancing transparency with the public while swiftly addressing operational challenges.
Transmission Company of Nigeria, statement serves as a reminder that technical issues are often at the root of blackouts, rather than catastrophic equipment failures.
In conclusion, residents of Anambra and Enugu States can rest assured that the Onitsha Sub-Region station remains safe, and normal power supply has been restored.
Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) continues to monitor and maintain its infrastructure to prevent future disruptions and ensure that electricity supply remains consistent for millions of Nigerians dependent on the grid.