Heavy rain: three transmission towers collapse along Karu-Keffi-Akwanga corridor

By Onu Okorie

Electricity supply to several communities in parts of Nasarawa State has been disrupted following the collapse of three transmission towers along the Karu-Keffi-Akwanga 132kV transmission line corridor.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said Towers T78, T79 and T80 collapsed during rainy and windy conditions on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, affecting power supply through the 132/33kV Keffi and Akwanga Transmission Substations.

According to a statement issued by TCN management, the incident occurred at about 4:06 p.m. when the 132kV Karu-Keffi-Akwanga Single Circuit Transmission Line tripped on overcurrent relay protection.

Following investigations, TCN engineers discovered that three transmission towers had collapsed and promptly isolated the affected section of the network for safety reasons.

The development has rendered all 33kV outgoing feeders at both the Keffi and Akwanga transmission substations unavailable.

TCN said no load could therefore be nominated on the affected feeders until further notice.

The collapse is expected to affect electricity consumers supplied through the two substations, although the transmission company did not provide details of the specific communities or number of customers affected.

Engineers assess damage

TCN said its engineers were already at the affected location to assess the extent of the damage and determine the materials, equipment and other requirements needed to commence restoration work.

“The Company regrets the inconvenience this development will cause electricity customers taking supply from substations affected by the tower incident,” TCN said.

The company assured affected electricity consumers that it was making efforts to complete the necessary repairs as quickly as possible and restore bulk power supply.

The transmission company also said it would continue to provide updates as restoration work progresses.

The affected Karu-Keffi-Akwanga line is a key transmission corridor serving the area, and the collapse of the three towers has temporarily interrupted the transmission of bulk electricity to the Keffi and Akwanga substations.

TCN did not immediately give an estimated timeline for the restoration of the damaged towers and affected feeders, saying further assessment was required before restoration activities could begin.

The incident comes amid continuing concerns over the vulnerability of Nigeria’s power transmission infrastructure to extreme weather conditions, equipment failures and other disruptions.

For consumers in the affected areas, however, the immediate concern remains when electricity supply will be restored. TCN said it would provide further updates as the repair and restoration process progresses.