The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has rejected Ikeja Electric’s (IKEDC) attribution of recent Band A feeder outages to grid instability, insisting that the disruptions resulted largely from reduced power generation and issues within the distribution company’s network. In a statement signed by its management on Friday, November 6, 2026,……
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has rejected Ikeja Electric’s (IKEDC) attribution of recent Band A feeder outages to grid instability, insisting that the disruptions resulted largely from reduced power generation and issues within the distribution company’s network.
In a statement signed by its management on Friday, November 6, 2026, TCN described IKEDC’s public notice of November 5, which blamed the transmission company for several outages recorded on November 3 and 4, as inaccurate and misleading.
TCN said the determination of the root causes of disturbances, shortfalls and interruptions on the national grid falls within the statutory functions of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), citing Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023.
It maintained that IKEDC, like other electricity market participants, had no authority to independently make such determinations, adding that NISO had not attributed the outages in the electricity distribution company’s notice to TCN.
According to TCN, NISO’s clarification of November 5 identified constraints in gas supply to thermal power stations and reduced output from hydroelectric stations due to lower reservoir inflows as the reasons for the decline in electricity generation.
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The transmission company said the reduction in available generation had affected the energy allocated to distribution companies, resulting in fewer hours of electricity supply and increased load shedding across their networks.
TCN argued that the shortfall experienced by IKEDC customers was therefore a consequence of reduced generation and energy allocation, rather than a failure of its transmission network.
It said, “TCN can only transmit the energy made available to it and cannot transmit energy that is not generated.”
The company also disclosed that its records for all feeders supplying IKEDC showed that 68 per cent of interruptions recorded on November 1 and 2 were frequency-control load shedding caused by low generation.
It attributed another 26 per cent to IKEDC’s non-compliance with load allocation by NISO’s National Control Centre or faults and maintenance work on the distribution company’s network.
The remaining six per cent, according to TCN, resulted from its planned maintenance, switching operations or line limitations, while none of the recorded interruptions was caused by a TCN equipment fault or trip.
On the 33kV feeders listed in IKEDC’s notice, TCN said 29 of the 46 recorded interruptions were caused by frequency-control load shedding arising from low generation.
It said 14 interruptions were recorded against IKEDC, comprising nine cases of non-compliance with load allocation and five faults or trips on its own network.
The remaining three interruptions, TCN explained, were scheduled maintenance on the Ogba–Alimosho line on November 1.
Citing an example, the company said the Rack Centre feeder was interrupted on November 2 by a cable fault on IKEDC’s network, which was repaired by the distribution company’s crew.
It added that IKEDC’s own notice assigned several feeders, including MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, to the distribution company for 33kV faults.
TCN said attributing supply shortfalls caused by generation constraints to the transmission company could mislead customers, undermine public confidence and obscure the challenges facing the electricity sector.
It urged IKEDC and other distribution companies to desist from making what it described as unfounded claims about the causes of supply disruptions, advising them to rely on verified information from NISO.
The company also advised electricity consumers to consult NISO’s official platforms for accurate updates on the state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
While sympathising with customers affected by reduced supply hours, TCN reaffirmed its commitment to transmitting all available electricity safely, reliably and efficiently, and working with NISO, generation companies and distribution companies to improve the situation.
