BY AKUDORO GLORIA
Residents of Birnin-Kebbi and Sokoto are clinging to the possibility of electricity supply as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has begun reconstruction of three collapsed towers along 330kV Kainji-Birnin Kebbi transmission line.
TCN announced this on Saturday through its General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, saying that its has mobilized three separate contractors to the site, each assigned to handle the reconstruction of one tower to accelerate the restoration process.
The collapsed towers which happened on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, have in the main time disrupted electricity supply to areas under Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (Kaduna Electric). The limited supply that homes and businesses in Sokoto and Birnin Kebbi are currently being received is being rationed from the Kaduna axis to provide some level of service, according to Kaduna Electric.
However, businesses in these regions are likely to have faced multiple challenges such as disruption of operations, decreased productivity and alternately financial setbacks due to prolonged power outage lasting for two weeks.
Meanwhile, the latest statement revealed, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announces that work is ongoing to re-erect three towers that collapsed along the 330kV Kainji-Birnin Kebbi transmission line on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. The collapse was caused by a heavy wind that felled the towers at approximately 5:35 pm.
“TCN has mobilized three separate contractors to the site, each assigned to handle the reconstruction of one tower. This strategic deployment aims to accelerate the restoration process and minimize downtime on the line.
“In the meantime, efforts have been made to cushion the impact of the disruption in bulk power supply to Kaduna DisCo, which affects some of its customers. Sokoto and Birnin Kebbi are currently receiving between 6MW and 7MW of bulk electricity from the Mando Transmission substation via the 132kV Mando-Zaria-Funtua-Gusau-
TCN, therefore, appreciated the patience and understanding of the affected communities as contractors work assiduously with it supervising engineers to rebuild the towers and restring the 330kV transmission line.
TCN expressed regret the inconvenience caused by the tower collapse and reaffirmed it commitment to restoring full supply as quickly as possible.
New National Star, had earlier reported of the prolonged power outage affecting communities in Birnin-Kebbi and Sokoto following the collapse of three transmission towers along Yauri town.