Major Power Outage Cripples Presidential Villa, Key Locations as AEDC Struggles to Restore Supply

A significant power outage has plunged Nigeria’s Presidential Villa and several key Abuja districts into darkness following a brazen act of vandalism. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported that its 132kV transmission line and underground cables, essential for delivering electricity to the Central Area Transmission Substation in Katampe, were deliberately damaged. This substation is pivotal, distributing power through eight feeders to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which then supplies numerous central regions.

The incident, occurring near the Millennium Park area, resulted in the theft of approximately 40 meters of 1x500mm² XLPE conductors from two 132kV transmission lines. This malicious act has disrupted over 60% of Abuja’s power supply, affecting prominent areas such as Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and sections of the Presidential Villa.

In response, TCN has mobilized a team of engineers to the site to expedite repairs and restore electricity to the impacted zones. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “We enjoin Nigerians to be vigilant in observing and reporting suspicious activities to security operatives. We must work together to protect our transmission equipment and installations.”

The AEDC has also acknowledged the disruption, informing its customers of the ongoing efforts to rectify the situation. They have urged residents to remain patient and report any suspicious activities that might compromise the integrity of the power infrastructure.

This event underscores the escalating challenge of safeguarding Nigeria’s critical power infrastructure from vandalism. Such acts not only inconvenience residents but also pose significant threats to national security and economic activities. Collaborative efforts between the public, security agencies, and power companies are imperative to deter future incidents and ensure a stable electricity supply.