TCN Extends OPGW Installation Work, Hitting Power Supply Across Northeast Nigeria
The TCN OPGW installation work in northeast Nigeria just got a longer deadline. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has extended the Jos–Bauchi–Gombe 330kV line maintenance until June 30, 2026. GossipShop breaks it down for you right now.
TCN confirmed the extension in an official weekend statement. Its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, signed off on the announcement. The work covers a massive 276-kilometre transmission corridor.
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However, the people feeling the heat are everyday Nigerians in the northeast. Bauchi, Gombe, Damaturu, and Maiduguri residents will face limited power supply. Yola, Jalingo, and their neighbouring communities will feel the full brunt too.
TCN OPGW Installation: What the Outage Schedule Looks Like
And here is the thing — the outage has a very specific timetable. Affected customers will lose power between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday. That is a nine-hour daily blackout across multiple states.
Furthermore, two major distribution companies are caught in the middle. The Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) will bear the impact. Both companies serve millions of customers across the affected zones.
TCN says power will return at the end of each day’s maintenance window. The company apologised to affected customers for the disruption. It also assured Nigerians that contractors are working hard to beat the June 30 deadline.
Let that sink in — residents will endure this disruption every weekend for the entire month of June. That is four weekends of reduced electricity access in already underserved communities. Northeast Nigeria is being asked to be patient yet again.
Why the OPGW Project Actually Matters for Nigeria’s Grid
Meanwhile, TCN insists the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term pain. The Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) installation will boost grid monitoring across the corridor. It will also enhance the overall operation of Nigeria’s national transmission network.
OPGW cables serve a dual purpose in modern power infrastructure. They act as ground wires for lightning protection and carry fibre-optic communication lines. Consequently, completing this project strengthens both grid safety and real-time data transmission for TCN.
Most importantly, this upgrade is part of Nigeria’s broader push to modernise its aging transmission infrastructure. TCN recently also executed a 300MVA capacity upgrade elsewhere on the grid. You can read more on Nigeria’s power sector developments right here at mygossipshop.com.
The full official disclosure from TCN was reported by Guardian Nigeria. GossipShop urges all affected residents to plan their power usage around the maintenance schedule. Charge your devices before 9 a.m., people.
Additionally, TCN is calling on communities in the northeast to support the project’s completion. Infrastructure vandalism has been a major setback for power projects in the region. TCN needs both government and community cooperation to deliver this upgrade on time.
In fact, this is not just a power story — it is a development story. The northeast has faced years of insecurity and infrastructure neglect. Every completed grid project is a step toward stability and economic recovery for the region.
🔎 GossipShop Verdict
We believe TCN owes northeast Nigerians more than just an apology — we need faster timelines and better communication. We think the nine-hour daily blackouts on weekends are too steep a price for communities already struggling. We will keep watching to ensure TCN delivers before June 30 as promised.
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