Insecurity will prolonging blackout in Northern Nigeria.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin kudu
On October 26, 2024
The prolonged blackout affecting Northern Nigeria underscores the significant impact of security challenges on essential infrastructure like power transmission.
The TCN’s struggle to restore electricity, following the Shiroro-Mando transmission line vandalism, reveals the vulnerabilities in our energy network and the broader repercussions of infrastructural attacks.
Despite TCN’s quick response to redirect electricity through the Ugwuaji-Apir line, the system’s fragility led to further disruptions. This limitation highlights the urgent need for more robust alternative power solutions and better protection for critical infrastructure in conflict-prone regions.
Engr. Nafisatu Asabe Ali’s remarks at the NERC public hearing emphasize the technical limitations of the Ugwuaji-Apir line, which, despite its capacity, is restricted to delivering only 350 MW safely to Kano and Kaduna due to stability concerns.
The reliance on such compromised setups makes evident the necessity of securing major lines like Shiroro-Mando, which has remained inaccessible due to insecurity, affecting not only northern Nigeria but also regions in Niger Republic.
Moving forward, a collaborative strategy involving enhanced security measures, infrastructural reinforcements, and contingency power routes could mitigate such occurrences.
