By Kolawole Ojebisi
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) can now fully resume social and business-related engagements, including nocturnal activities, that require electricity to yield their full benefits after a month-long period of blackout.
This is as the Transmission Company of Nigeria announced the complete relocation of eight 132kV and 33kV towers along the Kukwaba/Apo 132kV transmission line.
Though the development came three days after the scheduled deadline, it’s to the delight of residents in the FCT.
TCN also started the restoration of full bulk power to the 132/33kV Apo Transmission Substation, ensuring the resumption of normal power distribution to the area.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Friday.
Recall that on January 3, the company announced that due to the Federal Capital Development Authority’s road dualisation project, it would relocate eight towers along the Kukwaba/Apo transmission line.
TCN further stated that the relocation work would necessitate a planned power outage from Monday, January 6 to Monday, January 20, 2025 from 9am to 4pm daily.
This, it said, was the estimated duration for the dismantling and construction of the towers as well as restringing of the power cables that would enable resumption of bulk power supply to the Apo Transmission Substation from Gwagwalada Substation.
It noted that the relocation of the transmission towers was a necessity for the road completion project, assuring all that power supply would be restored as soon as the tower’s relocation and cable stringing were completed.
The TCN spokesperson, while thanking affected customers for their patience, announced that AEDC can now resume normal electricity supply from the substation to its customers in the affected areas, effectively ending the previously implemented load rationing.
The statement read, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria is pleased to announce the restoration of full bulk power to its 132/33kV Apo Transmission Substation, effective Thursday, January 23, 2025.
“This restoration follows the successful relocation of eight 132kV and 33kV towers along the Kukwaba/Apo 132kV line (Southern Expressway route), necessitated by the Federal Capital Development Agency’s road dualization project along the Apo axis.
“The two-week relocation work, which commenced on Monday, January 6, 2025, involved dismantling, and reconstructing the towers, as well as restringing power cables.
“With the restoration of full bulk power, Abuja DisCo can now provide normal electricity supply from the substation to its customers in the affected areas, ending the previous load rationing.
“TCN appreciates the patience and understanding of the affected electricity consumers during this period.”
