Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Electricity consumers in parts of Akwa Ibom State are now experiencing prolonged outages as the Transmission Company of Nigeria commences a scheduled maintenance exercise on the Uyo/Itu 132kV transmission line.
The outage, which runs daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for fourteen days (three days each week), began on April 9, 2026, and has expectedly disrupted bulk power supply across key areas.
TCN said the exercise is aimed at upgrading the transmission infrastructure through the installation of Optical Ground Wire, OPGW, a move expected to improve long-term grid performance.
“This exercise is to enable TCN’s contractors string the Optical Ground Wire, OPGW, along the Uyo/Itu Transmission Line,” the company stated.
As a result of the maintenance, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, has been unable to supply electricity to customers in Uyo, Eket, Ekim, and Ibom Power throughout the outage window.
The development effectively leaves households and businesses in the affected areas facing repeated power disruptions over the duration of the project.
TCN, however, assured that the intervention is critical to improving system reliability.
“On completion, this project will increase the line’s wheeling capacity, reduce frequent outages, and enhance system stability,” the statement added.
The company noted that contractors are already on-site working to ensure the timely completion of the project and restoration of bulk power supply.
While apologising for the inconvenience, TCN urged consumers to bear with the temporary disruption, emphasizing that the upgrade will deliver more stable electricity supply in the long term.
The outage highlights the continued trade-off between infrastructure upgrades and supply disruptions in Nigeria’s power sector.
