By Kolawole Ojebisi
The festivities attending the season of Christmas and New Year will be momentarily marred in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)for a couple of days.
This is as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has notified residents of the FCT about impending blackouts in these areas.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, TCN announced that its engineers would conduct planned maintenance exercises at two transmission substations between Saturday and Sunday.
The statement noted that from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, “maintenance will be carried out on a 60MVA power transformer and its associated switchgear at the Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV Transmission Substation.”
According to TCN, during the maintenance period, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (Abuja DisCo) “will not be able to supply electricity to customers in Gwagwalada and its environs for four hours only.”
The statement read, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria notifies the public that its engineers will conduct planned maintenance exercises at two transmission substations.
“Today, Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., maintenance will be carried out on a 60MVA power transformer and its associated switchgear at the Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV Transmission Substation.
“During this period, Abuja DisCo will not be able to supply electricity to customers in Gwagwalada and its environs for four hours only.”
Similarly, the statement added that from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday, “maintenance work will be carried out on one of the 60MVA power transformers at the Kukwaba 132/33kV Transmission Substation.”
This, according to TCN, will result in power interruptions in Wuye, EFCC, Federal Medical Centre, Coca-Cola, Idu Railway Station, Citec, and Life Camp.
“Also, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., maintenance work will be carried out on one of the 60MVA power transformers at the Kukwaba 132/33kV Transmission Substation. This will result in power interruption in Wuye, EFCC, Federal Medical Centre, Coca-Cola, Idu Railway Station, Citec, and Life Camp,” it added.
The company sincerely apologised for the inconvenience, noting that maintenance was scheduled to ensure the optimal performance of power equipment.
“TCN apologises for the inconvenience this may cause, especially during the end-of-year and yuletide season. However, it is important that maintenance is carried out as scheduled for the optimal performance of power equipment,” the statement said.
Recall that earlier this month, TCN postponed planned maintenance on the 150MVA TR2 330/132/33kV transformer at the Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV Transmission Substation.
The maintenance, originally scheduled for Saturday, 14th, and Sunday, 15th December 2024, was delayed due to poor power supply complaints from FCT residents.
