Residents of Yola and Jalingo, the capital cities of Adamawa and Taraba States respectively, have been plunged into darkness as they face a five-day total blackout that began on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced the power outage in a statement released by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, on Wednesday. According to TCN, the blackout is necessary as the company commenced construction of a turn-in-turn-out along the 330 kV Jos-Bauchi-Gombe transmission line to connect the new Bauchi 330 kV Transmission Substation to the national grid.
"Work began today, June 10, 2025, and is expected to be completed by June 14, 2025," the statement read. "Only Yola and Jalingo will experience full power outages during the five-day project duration."
Partial Power Supply to Other Areas
While Yola and Jalingo face complete blackouts, other areas will experience reduced electricity supply. TCN explained that during the construction period, Gombe and Biu Transmission Substations will receive power through alternative sources - the Dadin-Kowa Hydro Power Plant and Maiduguri Substation, supported by the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
This arrangement will result in a temporary reduction in bulk electricity supply to Jos and Yola Electricity Distribution Companies for onward distribution to their customers in Bauchi, Gombe, Ashaka, Savannah, Damaturu/Potiskum, and Biu regions.
Long-Term Benefits of the Project
The TCN emphasized that the current inconvenience will yield significant long-term benefits for the power infrastructure in the region. A new transmission tower is being installed to enhance the resilience and flexibility of the network, allowing the Bauchi and Gombe substations to act as mutual backups during maintenance or in the event of faults.
Additionally, the upgrade will enable Jos to supply Bauchi Substation directly through a 132 kV transmission line whenever the primary 330 kV connection via Gombe is unavailable. TCN stated that "this arrangement enhances power reliability, diversifies transmission routes, and improves emergency response efficiency."
The project represents a significant step in TCN's ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria's power transmission infrastructure, particularly in the northeastern region which has historically faced challenges with electricity supply stability.
Residents of affected areas are advised to make alternative power arrangements during the outage period as TCN works to complete the upgrades within the scheduled timeframe.
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