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TCN has declared force majeure on the 132kV Birnin Kebbi–Niamey transmission line after three towers collapsed at Chibike Village in Kebbi State, cutting the infrastructure used to transmit bulk electricity from Nigeria to Niamey.
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The transmission line first tripped at 5:38 pm on August 26, but an attempted restoration 25 minutes later failed when the line immediately tripped again, prompting TCN to investigate the cause of the fault.
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A subsequent inspection by TCN linesmen revealed that towers T109, T110 and T111 had collapsed, with the company blaming heavy rainfall and a windstorm for the damage to the critical transmission infrastructure.
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The collapse has disrupted electricity transmission to Niger Republic, forcing TCN to mobilise personnel and resources to the site for emergency rehabilitation as it races to restore the cross-border power link.
August 28, (THEWILL) — The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared force majeure on the 132kV Birnin Kebbi–Niamey transmission line after three transmission towers collapsed in Kebbi State, disrupting bulk electricity transmission to Niger Republic.
The declaration followed the collapse of towers T109, T110 and T111 at Chibike Village, with TCN attributing the incident to heavy rainfall and a windstorm in the area.
In a statement issued by its management, TCN said the Birnin Kebbi–Niamey line tripped at about 5:38 pm on August 26, 2026.
According to the company, a trial reclosure was undertaken at about 6:03 pm in an attempt to restore the line, but it tripped again immediately, indicating that the fault remained unresolved.
Following the failed restoration attempt, TCN linesmen embarked on a fault-finding patrol along the transmission route and subsequently discovered that three of the towers had collapsed at Chibike Village.
The company said the damage had affected the transmission of bulk electricity to Niamey through the line, creating a disruption to the power supply arrangement between Nigeria and Niger.
TCN said it had immediately mobilised personnel and resources to the affected location, with efforts underway to rehabilitate the collapsed towers and return the transmission line to service.
“TCN has mobilised personnel and resources to the site and will ensure that all hands are on deck to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation of the collapsed towers and return the line to service in the shortest possible time,” the company said.
TCN also apologised for the disruption and inconvenience caused to electricity customers in Niamey, assuring that every effort was being made to restore normal power transmission promptly.
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The Birnin Kebbi–Niamey transmission line forms part of the electricity transmission infrastructure linking Nigeria’s power system with Niger Republic. The cross-border connection enables the transmission of bulk electricity from Nigeria towards Niamey.
The collapse of the three towers therefore represents a significant physical disruption to the interconnection, rather than a routine transmission fault. The incident also comes at a time when the reliability of critical electricity infrastructure remains a major concern across the region.
TCN said it would deploy the necessary resources to expedite the restoration process. It did not give a specific date for the full return of the line to service.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
