Blackout hits Ogba, Oke-ira communities in Lagos

By Doris Israel Ijeoma

Some parts of Lagos will soon plunge into darkness for eight weeks to enable the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to re-conduct its 132KV lines.

This was made known by Chief Technical Office of Ikeja Electric Distribution Company, Olajide Kumapayi at a news briefing on Monday in Ikeja.

The company said starting from October 11, some areas under its operational network will experience power outages for two months.

The project would increase the capacity of the transmission lines to generate more power from the generation companies.

He noted that some of the 132K lines installed over 50 years ago had become obsolete and degraded due to time and usage.

Affected areas at this stage of the project include Oregun, Police Training College, Oba Akran, Oke Ira, Ogba, Magodo, Anifowoshe and Omole Phase One.

“The TCN is currently embarking on the upgrade of the 132KV lines from Ikeja West to Ota and Alimosho in stages. This is the second stage.

“The TCN is replacing all the aluminium conductors with gap conductors, which are more sophisticated to withstand heat and have more capacity to carry current.

“The implication of this is that from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday, the substations controlling these areas will be switched off, which will affect the feeders connected to them.

“This will affect all categories of customers within the area, especially our Maximum Demand (MD) customers such as Ikeja City Mall, Police College, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and the Ikeja High Court,” Mr Kumapayi said.

He said Alimosho and Agege axis would be next.