The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has refuted claims made by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) attributing recent power outages in the Benin district to TCN’s maintenance activities. In a statement released on Sunday, TCN accused BEDC of misleading the public and misrepresenting the true cause of the disruptions.
According to Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, BEDC had, on March 14th, publicized through its social media platforms that TCN maintenance work was the reason for power interruptions affecting customers in Sapele, Abraka, Ughelli/Shell, and surrounding industrial areas. TCN strongly denies this assertion.
“TCN wishes to address the publication by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on its social media platform, dated March 14, that TCN was responsible for the blackout, which was not true,” Mbah stated. “The announcement by BEDC’s inability to deliver power to its 33kV customers to TCN’s maintenance activities was not true.”
Mbah clarified that TCN only requested a planned outage at the Amukpe Transmission Station on March 11th, which was completed on the same day, with power being fully restored afterwards. “For clarification purposes, TCN only applied for a planned outage on March 11, at the Amukpe Transmission Station, which was completed on the same day, and bulk power supply was restored,” she explained. “Contrary to BEDC’s claims, TCN’s maintenance activities did not cause the power delivery issues experienced by BEDC’s customers.”
While acknowledging the validity of BEDC’s report concerning the Ughelli/Shell 33kV feeder T1 60MVA which tripped due to a fault on March 14th, Mbah emphasized that TCN is actively working to restore power supply to that specific feeder. She further clarified that power delivery issues experienced in other areas cited by BEDC were due to faults on BEDC’s own 33kV feeders.
“The only valid statement in BEDC’s publication was regarding the Ughelli/Shell 33kV feeder T1 60MVA, which tripped off due to a fault on March 14,” Mbah confirmed.
TCN is urging BEDC to provide accurate and transparent information to its customers and avoid misleading the public with inaccurate claims. “She urged BEDC to provide accurate information to its customers and avoid misrepresentations, stressing that facts should be made clear for the benefit of stakeholders.”
Mbah reiterated TCN’s commitment to maintaining an efficient and reliable electricity transmission network across the country, ensuring consistent power delivery for all consumers. “TCN remained committed to maintaining efficient and reliable electricity transmission across the country for all consumers,” she concluded. The dispute highlights the ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector and the importance of clear communication between electricity generation, transmission, and distribution companies.
