The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) have given conflicting explanations over the power outages experienced in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday, raising fresh questions about communication between key players in the power sector.
In a statement issued on May 5, 2026, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, dismissed AEDC’s claim that there was scheduled maintenance at the Apo 132kV Transmission Substation.
According to TCN, no such maintenance was carried out on the day in question, contrary to AEDC’s public notice which had attributed the outage to planned work on one of the 100MVA transformers at the facility.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) wishes to clarify a public notice circulated by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) regarding scheduled maintenance on one of the 100MVA power transformers at the Apo 132kV Transmission Substation,” the statement read.
TCN insisted that the transformer in question had already been taken offline earlier for emergency repairs and that the maintenance had been completed on April 30, 2026—nearly a week before the outage reported by AEDC customers.
The company explained that the TR3 transformer was shut down in April after signs of arcing were detected on its bushing, prompting urgent intervention which was subsequently concluded.
“TCN states categorically that no maintenance activity was carried out at its Apo 132kV Transmission Substation on May 5, 2026, as claimed by AEDC,” the statement added.
It further clarified that the power interruption experienced by residents in the affected areas could not be linked to any ongoing work at the transmission level, as suggested by the distribution company.
The clarification directly contradicts AEDC’s earlier communication to customers, which had cited maintenance as the cause of supply disruption in parts of Abuja.
TCN reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and efficient management of the national transmission network, stressing that it remains consistent in providing accurate updates on grid operations and maintenance activities.
The disagreement highlights ongoing coordination gaps within the electricity value chain, even as consumers continue to grapple with irregular power supply across the capital city.
