The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared a force majeure on the Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV transmission line after a heavy rainstorm brought down a critical tower, disrupting power transmission in parts of the South-West.
The incident, which occurred on April 16, 2026, affected a major electricity corridor responsible for transmitting bulk power across the region, raising fresh concerns over the resilience of Nigeria’s power infrastructure to extreme weather.
In a statement issued on Sunday, General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, said the line tripped during the storm due to a fault detected along the route.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria wishes to inform the public that a force majeure has occurred on the Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV transmission line following a severe rainstorm on Thursday, 16 April 2026,” the statement read.
She added, “The line tripped during the storm due to a fault, which was detected at approximately 14.9 kilometres from the Ikeja West (Ayobo) end of the transmission line.”
According to the company, further inspection revealed that Tower 515 collapsed at its midsection during the storm.
“Further inspection by TCN maintenance crews revealed that Tower No. 515 had collapsed during the storm, with the structure giving way at its midsection. While TCN is mobilising materials and personnel for the re-erection of the fallen tower, efforts are currently ongoing by its engineers to dismantle the affected tower,” the statement added.
TCN said emergency response measures have been activated to speed up repairs and restore full capacity on the line.
“While TCN is mobilising materials and personnel for the re-erection of the fallen tower, efforts are currently ongoing by its engineers to dismantle the affected tower,” it reiterated.
The company also assured electricity consumers that alternative transmission routes are being used to reduce the impact of the disruption.
“We assure that we will work assiduously to restore flexibility and redundancy in that corridor as alternative line is still in service evacuating bulk power. Updates will be provided as work progresses,” the statement concluded.
The Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV line is a key backbone of Nigeria’s national grid, linking Lagos to other parts of the South-West. Disruptions along the route often lead to widespread power outages, especially in densely populated areas.
The declaration of force majeure signals that the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond the company’s control, in this case extreme weather, preventing it from fully meeting transmission obligations on the line.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s electricity sector, including ageing infrastructure, limited capacity, and increasing vulnerability to climate-related disruptions.
