Residents of Jalingo and other parts of Taraba State will have to wait longer for the restoration of electricity supply after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) extended the planned outage on the Yola–Mayo Belwa–Jalingo 132kV transmission line. The initial schedule had promised power restoration by Tuesday, but this has now been pushed back.
The extension was announced on Monday, following the realization that the ongoing line stringing works and energizing of a new 150MVA power transformer at the Jalingo Transmission Substation could not be completed as planned. The outage, which commenced on January 9, 2026, has left the state in a total blackout, affecting residents and businesses alike.
TCN had initially stated that the outage was necessary to enable the completion of critical maintenance works on the transmission line. However, the delay has frustrated residents who were expecting power to be restored by Tuesday. The Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) has assured customers that it is on standby to restore power supply as soon as TCN confirms the completion of the repair works.
The extension of the outage has significant implications for small-scale business operators who rely heavily on electricity for their livelihoods. An ice fish seller in Jalingo expressed her disappointment, stating that she had planned to restock her cold room with a large supply of fish on Tuesday but is now unsure of what to do.
As the situation continues to unfold, neither TCN nor YEDC has provided a definite date for the restoration of electricity supply to the state. The prolonged outage has raised concerns among residents, who are calling for a swift resolution to the issue. The YEDC has appealed for patience and understanding, assuring customers that power will be restored promptly once the transmission line is handed back.
The ongoing outage highlights the need for reliable and efficient electricity supply in Taraba State. As the situation develops, residents and businesses will be eagerly awaiting updates on the restoration of power supply. With the extension of the outage, it remains to be seen when normal electricity supply will be restored to the affected areas.
