The Transmission Company of Nigeria has declared a force majeure on the Ikeja West–Osogbo 330kV transmission line after a heavy rainstorm caused the collapse of a major power tower, raising concerns about the resilience of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.
The incident, which occurred on April 16, 2026, disrupted one of the country’s critical power transmission routes responsible for supplying electricity across parts of the South-West.
In a statement signed by its General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the company explained that the transmission line tripped during the storm due to a fault traced to a section about 14.9 kilometres from the Ikeja West end.
Further inspection revealed that Tower 515 along the line had collapsed midway due to the impact of the storm.
According to TCN, engineers have already been deployed to the site, with efforts underway to dismantle the damaged structure and begin reconstruction. Materials and personnel are also being mobilised to restore the line as quickly as possible.
The Ikeja West–Osogbo line is a major backbone of Nigeria’s national grid, linking Lagos to other parts of the South-West. Any disruption along this corridor often leads to reduced power supply, especially in densely populated areas.
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To reduce the impact of the outage, the company said it is relying on alternative transmission routes to continue evacuating electricity while repair work is ongoing.
Force majeure, as declared by TCN, means the disruption was caused by circumstances beyond its control—in this case, extreme weather conditions—which temporarily prevent full operation of the line.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector, including ageing infrastructure and vulnerability to harsh weather. Experts have repeatedly called for stronger investments in modern and climate-resilient transmission systems to reduce frequent outages.
TCN, however, assured consumers that efforts are being intensified to restore normal operations and improve reliability across the affected corridor.
