Seven northern states face power outages for grid modernisation

Electricity consumers in Plateau, Gombe, Bauchi, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe states are set to experience weeks of disrupted power supply as the Nigerian Independent System Operator announces a scheduled outage on the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, the Nigerian Independent System Operator said the outage would run from April 9 to May 22, 2026, occurring weekly from Thursday to Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

The agency explained that the disruption is part of a broader effort to modernise the national grid through the installation of Optical Ground Wire fibre optic infrastructure along the Jos–Gombe transmission corridor.

The notice read, “The Nigerian Independent System Operator wishes to inform customers in the affected States of a scheduled outage on the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line from 9th April to 22nd May 2026, occurring every Thursday to Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

“This outage is necessary to facilitate the installation of Optical Ground Wire fibre optic infrastructure along the line. This upgrade is part of ongoing efforts to enhance grid operations through improved SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), EMS (Energy Management Systems), and telecommunications capabilities.

“It is expected to strengthen real-time monitoring, fault detection, load balancing, and overall energy delivery across the region.”

Despite assurances of alternative supply arrangements, the system operator warned that electricity consumers in the affected states should expect reduced power availability during the outage windows.

According to the operator, “During the outage period, supply to the affected areas will be maintained through available 132kV transmission lines.

“However, due to inherent network constraints and limited capacity on these lines, customers may experience reduced power supply and service limitations within the stated outage window.”

The development highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s power transmission network, where redundancy and capacity limitations often lead to supply disruptions whenever major infrastructure upgrades are undertaken.

However, the system operator insisted that the temporary inconvenience would deliver long-term benefits, particularly in improving grid intelligence and operational efficiency.

It stated, “This upgrade is part of ongoing efforts to enhance grid operations through improved SCADA, Energy Management Systems, and telecommunications capabilities.”

“We are working closely with key stakeholders, including Jos and Yola Distribution Companies, as well as partners such as the Transmission Company of Nigeria, who have shown strong cooperation during stakeholder engagements,” the notice said.

It added that, “Every effort is being made to ensure that outages across feeders, distribution substations, and customer clusters are managed within the stipulated timeframe.”

Upon completion, the project is expected to significantly improve electricity reliability in the region by enabling faster fault detection, better load management, and enhanced coordination across the grid.

The operator listed the expected gains to include improved quality of supply, quicker restoration of electricity after faults, stronger system stability, and better integration of generation and load data.

It stated, “Upon completion, the project is expected to deliver the following benefits: Improved quality and reliability of electricity supply, enhanced grid coordination and load management, faster restoration of supply following faults. Improved system monitoring, stability, and reduced disturbances. Better integration of generation and load data. Strengthened telecommunications backbone for power system operations in the region.”

The agency also noted that the fibre optic installation would strengthen the telecommunications backbone required for modern power system operations.

PUNCH Online reports that Nigeria’s power sector has increasingly turned to digital infrastructure such as fibre optics, SCADA, and energy management systems to address persistent grid instability, frequent system collapses, and limited visibility across transmission networks.

Such upgrades are critical as the country seeks to expand generation capacity and improve electricity delivery, especially in underserved regions like the North-East.

While apologising for the inconvenience, the system operator appealed for public understanding.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to deliver a more reliable and efficient power supply to the affected States,” the notice concluded.