The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has invoked force majeure on the 330kV Kainji-Birnin Kebbi transmission line after a tower along the route collapsed during heavy rain and strong winds.
The development has disrupted bulk electricity transmission through the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi corridor, although TCN said it had activated an alternative route to sustain power transmission to Sokoto.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the company said the transmission line tripped at 10:44pm on September 7. A trial reclosure carried out at 11:07pm in an attempt to restore the line was unsuccessful.
TCN subsequently deployed linesmen from its Birnin Kebbi sub-region to trace the fault along the transmission corridor.
The inspection team discovered that tower T367 had collapsed.
The company said preliminary investigations showed that the structure was brought down by severe weather conditions in the area.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the collapse of the tower was caused by heavy winds and rainstorms experienced in the area,” TCN said.
According to the transmission company, the incident qualified as a natural disaster and necessitated the declaration of force majeure on the affected line.
Force majeure is a contractual provision that relieves a party of certain obligations or liabilities when unforeseen circumstances beyond its control prevent it from fulfilling its commitments.
TCN said arrangements were already being made to mobilise personnel, equipment and other resources to the site to begin reconstruction of the damaged tower.
It expressed confidence that the line would be restored to service as quickly as possible.
While repairs are ongoing, TCN said electricity transmission to Sokoto had been sustained through an alternative network configuration.
It explained that the Talata Mafara-Sokoto corridor was receiving supply through the Kaduna-Mando axis via the 132kV Zaria-Funtua-Gusau transmission line.
The company apologised to electricity consumers and other stakeholders affected by the disruption, assuring them that all necessary measures were being taken to restore normal bulk power transmission.
The incident is the latest transmission infrastructure failure recorded in the area.
On August 28, TCN also declared force majeure on the 132kV Birnin Kebbi-Niamey transmission line after three transmission towers collapsed.
The repeated tower collapses have raised fresh concerns about the resilience of Nigeria's transmission network, particularly its ability to withstand extreme weather conditions.
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