JUST IN: Nationwide Blackout as Labour Union Shuts Down National Grid

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has announced that the national grid has been deliberately shut down by the Labour Union, plunging the entire country into darkness. The grid shutdown occurred at approximately 2:19 am this morning, on June 3rd, 2024.

Reports from the Benin Transmission Operator, operating under the Independent System Operations unit of TCN, reveal a disturbing scene. At around 1:15 am, all operators were forcibly removed from the control room, with some staff members reportedly beaten and injured in the process. This chaos resulted in the Benin Area Control Center being brought to a standstill.

Furthermore, the Labour Union targeted several other transmission substations, including Ganmo, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo, forcing their shutdown. Additionally, certain transmission lines were deliberately opened, exacerbating the situation.

The impact extended to power generating stations, where units were forced to shut down due to the sudden load cuts. Jebba Generating Station, for instance, had to close one of its units, followed by three others due to high frequency issues, ultimately leading to the shutdown of the national grid.

Despite efforts to restore the grid, the Labour Union continues to obstruct grid recovery efforts nationwide. TCN initiated grid recovery at around 3:23 am, utilizing the Shiroro Substation to feed transmission lines supplying electricity to the Katampe Transmission Substation.

Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN, has assured the public that efforts are ongoing to stabilize the grid and restore normal electricity transmission to distribution load centers across the country.