Union Deliberately Shuts Down National Grid, TCN Reports
Abuja, Nigeria – June 3, 2024
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that the national grid was deliberately shut down by the Labour Union, causing a nationwide blackout. The shutdown occurred at approximately 2:19 AM on June 3, 2024.
According to a statement from TCN, the incident began at about 1:15 AM when operators at the Benin Transmission Control Center, under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN, were forcibly removed from the control room. Reports indicate that staff members who resisted were beaten and injured. Subsequently, the control center was completely shut down.
Key transmission substations affected by the union’s actions include Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo. In addition, several transmission lines were opened, exacerbating the grid’s instability.
The impact on power generation has been significant. Various generating stations were forced to shut down units. Notably, the Jebba Generating Station had to shut down one of its generating units, with three others subsequently shutting down due to very high frequency. These sudden forced load cuts led to high frequency and system instability, ultimately resulting in the grid’s shutdown at 2:19 AM.
Efforts to restore power began at about 3:23 AM, with TCN attempting to use the Shiroro Substation to feed the transmission lines supplying bulk electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation. However, ongoing obstructions by the Labour Union are hindering grid recovery efforts.
“We will continue to make efforts to recover and stabilize the grid to enable the restoration of normal bulk transmission of electricity to distribution load centers nationwide,” TCN stated.
The nationwide blackout comes amidst a broader strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), which has disrupted various sectors, including transportation and healthcare. The unions are demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
The public and businesses are urged to remain patient as TCN works to restore power and stabilize the grid amid the ongoing challenges posed by the labour strike. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
