TCN declares force majeure as storm damages Lagos–Osun power line

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared a force majeure on the Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV transmission line following a rainstorm that caused the collapse of a major tower, disrupting power flow across parts of the South-West.

 

The incident, which occurred on April 16, was confirmed in a statement on Sunday by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah.

 

According to the company, the line tripped during the storm due to a fault traced to about 14.9 kilometres from the Ikeja West (Ayobo) end of the line.

 

“Further inspection by TCN maintenance crews revealed that Tower No. 515 had collapsed during the storm, with the structure giving way at its midsection,” the statement said.

 

TCN noted that the Ikeja West–Osogbo line is a critical transmission corridor linking Lagos to other parts of the South-West, warning that disruptions along the route often have widespread implications for electricity supply.

 

The company said emergency response measures have been activated, with engineers already working to dismantle the damaged structure and commence re-erection.

 

“While TCN is mobilising materials and personnel for the re-erection of the fallen tower, efforts are ongoing to restore full transmission capacity,” it added.

 

Despite the disruption, TCN assured that alternative transmission routes are being utilised to minimise the impact on electricity consumers.

 

“We will work assiduously to restore flexibility and redundancy in that corridor as alternative line is still in service evacuating bulk power,” the company stated.

 

The declaration of force majeure indicates that the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond TCN’s control.

 

The incident has again highlighted concerns over the vulnerability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure to extreme weather, amid ongoing challenges of ageing facilities and grid instability.