The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has accused Ikeja Electric of misleading customers by attributing latest feeder outages in elements of Lagos to grid instability, insisting that the disruptions had been largely attributable to decreased energy technology and faults on the distribution firm’s community.
In a press release responding to Ikeja Electric’s public discover of November 5, 2026, TCN disputed the distribution firm’s attribution of a number of Band A feeder outages recorded on November 3 and 4 to the transmission community.
TCN mentioned the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), relatively than electrical energy distribution firms (DisCos), is liable for figuring out the causes of disturbances and interruptions on the nationwide grid. It added that NISO had not attributed the outages cited by Ikeja Electric to a failure of TCN’s community.
TCN disputes Ikeja Electric’s outage claims
TCN mentioned NISO had already defined that the latest decline in electrical energy provide was attributable to fuel provide constraints affecting thermal energy stations and decreased output from hydroelectric stations because of decrease water inflows into reservoirs.
According to the transmission firm, the decreased technology lowered the quantity of electrical energy out there for allocation to DisCos, leading to fewer provide hours and elevated load shedding throughout distribution networks.
TCN argued that the shortfall skilled by Ikeja Electric’s customers was subsequently a consequence of decreased technology and decrease allocation, relatively than a failure of the transmission community.
It additionally cited Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, which it mentioned locations the accountability for figuring out the foundation causes of grid disturbances, shortfalls and interruptions inside NISO’s outlined capabilities.
- “By advantage of Section 67 of the Electricity Act 2023, the dedication of the foundation trigger of disturbances, shortfalls and interruptions on the nationwide grid falls solely inside the outlined capabilities of the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO), “TCN said.
The firm maintained that it might solely transmit the electrical energy generated and made out there to it, including that it couldn’t transmit energy that was not produced.
TCN presents feeder interruption figures
To assist its place, TCN cited interruption information for feeders supplying Ikeja Electric, saying they had been per NISO’s clarification of the nationwide technology shortfall.
Nairametrics earlier reported that NISO attributed the latest decline in energy technology, which has triggered blackouts throughout the nation, to fuel provide constraints affecting thermal energy vegetation and decreased output from hydroelectric energy stations.
According to the TCN, the information for November 1 and a couple of confirmed that 68% of interruptions resulted from frequency-control load shedding attributable to low technology. Another 26% had been linked to Ikeja Electric’s failure to adjust to load allocations issued by NISO’s National Control Centre (NCC), or to faults and upkeep work on the DisCo’s community.
- The remaining 6% concerned TCN-planned upkeep, switching operations or line limitations. TCN mentioned none of the recorded interruptions was attributable to a fault or journey on its tools.
The firm additionally examined 46 interruptions recorded on the 33kV feeders listed in Ikeja Electric’s discover. It mentioned 29 had been attributable to frequency-control load shedding arising from low technology, whereas 14 had been attributed to the distribution firm.
- TCN mentioned, “Of the 46 interruptions recorded on the 33kV feeders named in the notice, 29 were frequency-control load-shedding arising from low generation, and 14 were recorded against IKEDC: 9 for non-compliance with load allocation and 5 for faults or trips on its own network.”
The remaining three had been scheduled TCN upkeep on the Ogba–Alimosho line on November 1.
TCN additional cited the Rack Centre feeder interruption on November 2, which it mentioned resulted from a cable fault on Ikeja Electric’s community and was repaired by the DisCo’s crew. It additionally famous that Ikeja Electric’s personal discover assigned some feeders, together with MTN, Iju Water Works and Rack Centre, to the corporate for 33kV faults.
TCN urged Ikeja Electric and different DisCos to keep away from making claims concerning the causes of provide disruptions with out verified data from NISO. It additionally suggested electrical energy customers to seek the advice of NISO’s official platforms for updates on the state of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.
The transmission firm mentioned it sympathised with affected customers and remained dedicated to transmitting out there electrical energy safely and reliably whereas working with NISO, technology firms and DisCos to enhance provide.
Lagos outages revive accountability considerations
The disagreement follows earlier electrical energy disruptions reported in elements of Lagos and Abuja. Nairametrics reported that Ikeja Electric and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) had attributed outages of their respective areas to decreased energy allocation from the nationwide grid and technical faults.
Both firms used their official communication channels to elucidate the disruptions and replace customers on restoration efforts.
Ikeja Electric, which distributes electrical energy throughout elements of Lagos, together with Ikeja and surrounding communities, had mentioned constraints within the quantity of electrical energy allotted to its community restricted the facility out there for distribution, leading to fewer provide hours for customers.
