Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Residents and businesses in Uyo, Eket, Itu, and Ekim have been thrown into darkness following a major power outage caused by a wire cut on the Aba/Itu 132kV transmission line, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHED, has announced.
In a statement signed by its management, PHED said the outage was beyond its direct control, attributing the fault to the transmission infrastructure managed by the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.
“Please note that the outage currently experienced in Uyo, Eket, Itu, and Ekim is due to a wire cut on Aba/Itu 132kV Line.
“We appeal to our esteemed customers feeding from these areas to exercise patience as TCN technical team is working to rectify the fault and restore power as soon as possible,” the utility company stated.
The blackout, which began on Monday, has disrupted daily activities across Akwa Ibom’s commercial hubs, with small businesses and households resorting to alternative power sources at higher costs.
Electricity supply disruptions are a recurring challenge in the state, often linked to transmission faults, vandalism, and ageing infrastructure.
The latest outage underscores the fragility of Nigeria’s power grid, which has struggled to provide consistent supply despite ongoing reforms.
Consumers have expressed frustration over the development, citing the heavy economic burden imposed by outages.
Affected areas are also concerned about the timeline for restoration, as TCN has yet to give a definite deadline for repairs.
PHED, however, assured customers that it is monitoring the situation closely and will restore supply immediately after TCN completes repairs.
“All inconveniences are regretted,” the company added.
The incident comes at a time when Nigeria’s power sector is grappling with wider system constraints, including gas shortages, transmission bottlenecks, and liquidity challenges that continue to hamper reliable electricity delivery.
