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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Following a transmission line cut between Towers 420 and 422 on the Omotoso–Ikeja West 330 kV transmission line at the weekend, residents of Ikeja have been thrown into darkness.
In a statement, the General Manager (GM) of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mrs Ndidi Mbah, announced that the line snap affected both Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies.
‘This temporary drop in bulk power supply has caused significant load shedding within the Eko and Ikeja franchise areas.
‘Meanwhile,’ she said, ‘TCN has mobilised its engineers to the site and conveyed necessary materials to repair the snapped sections of the 330 kV Omotoso–Ikeja West transmission line.
‘Repair is expected to be completed within three days, after which the full bulk power supply will be restored through the transmission line route.
‘TCN apologises for any inconvenience caused to the government, Eko and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Companies, and electricity consumers in Lagos State,’ Mbah said.
Earlier in the year, the same facilities were attacked by the Nigerian Air Force, which attracted the attention of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adekola Adelabu.
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According to the minister, the attack on the facilities of Ikeja Electric, one of the nation’s critical power distribution companies, by the Nigerian Air Force is unfortunate and a matter of grave concern to the country.
‘This unfortunate incident has also raised serious questions about the need for restraint, dialogue, and the use of appropriate democratic channels in resolving conflicts,’ he said.
The minister noted that the power sector is the lifeblood of the nation’s economy and a cornerstone of national development.
‘Any attack on its infrastructure is an attack on the progress and well-being of our people. The facilities of Ikeja Electric, which serve millions of Nigerians, were designed to ensure the efficient distribution of electricity to homes, hospitals, schools, and industries, including military installations. This incident has set back our efforts to achieve a stable and uninterrupted power supply, and it is a blow to the collective aspirations of our nation,’ the minister said.
Adelabu emphasised that no grievance, no matter how legitimate, justifies the destruction of public infrastructure.
‘Such actions are counterproductive and only serve to exacerbate the challenges we face as a nation. We must always remember that violence and destruction are not the answer to our problems. Instead, we must embrace dialogue, understanding, and the rule of law as the only viable means of resolving conflicts.
‘I call on all parties involved to exercise restraint and to seek peaceful and democratic means of addressing all issues that may have led to this unfortunate incident. Our democracy provides us with the tools and institutions necessary to resolve disputes without resorting to violence. We have the judiciary, the legislature, and various regulatory bodies that are empowered to mediate and adjudicate conflicts. It is imperative that we utilise these channels to ensure that justice is served and that such incidents do not recur,’ he noted.
