Kainji-Birnin Kebbi Line Hit by Tower Collapse

A collapsed transmission tower has disrupted electricity transmission along the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi corridor after strong winds and heavy rainfall hit the area.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 8, saying the damage affected the 330kV Kainji-Birnin Kebbi transmission line.

TCN said the line, identified as 2KNJ-BRK1, tripped at about 10:44pm on Monday, September 7, 2026. Engineers attempted to restore the connection at 11:07pm, but the line tripped again.

Following the second failure, TCN sent linesmen from its Birnin Kebbi Sub-Region to inspect the transmission corridor and determine the cause of the fault.

The team discovered that Tower T367 had collapsed.

“Preliminary findings indicate that the collapse of the tower was caused by heavy winds and rainstorms experienced in the area,” TCN said.

The damage has disrupted the transmission of bulk electricity through the 330kV Kainji-Birnin Kebbi transmission corridor. TCN consequently declared force majeure on the affected line, citing the natural event that caused the damage.

The company has started preparations to move personnel, equipment and other materials to the site. Its teams will rebuild the collapsed tower and work to restore normal electricity transmission along the corridor.

Despite the damage, TCN said it had found an alternative route to maintain electricity transmission to Sokoto.

The company explained that the Talata Mafara-Sokoto corridor was receiving electricity through another transmission route from the Kaduna-Mando axis. The alternative connection uses the 132kV Zaria-Funtua-Gusau transmission line.

According to TCN, the arrangement is helping maintain electricity supply to affected areas while preparations for repairs continue.

The Kainji-Birnin Kebbi corridor remains affected by the tower collapse, but TCN said its ongoing response is aimed at limiting the impact on electricity consumers and restoring the damaged infrastructure as quickly as possible.

The company apologised to electricity consumers and other stakeholders for the disruption caused by the incident.

TCN also assured the public that it was working to return normal bulk electricity transmission along the affected route as soon as possible.

The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical electricity infrastructure to severe weather, particularly strong winds and heavy rainfall.

How quickly can TCN rebuild the collapsed tower and fully restore transmission along the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi corridor?