The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has announced a planned, month-long electricity disruption for multiple communities in Edo State, scheduled from February 27 to March 31, 2026. The outage is attributed to essential maintenance work on a critical national transmission line.
According to a statement from the distribution company, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will conduct scheduled maintenance on the 330kV Benin/Ajaokuta Line 2 at the Ihovbor Transmission Station. This work on the high-voltage backbone is intended to bolster national grid capacity and improve long-term supply reliability.
The maintenance will directly impact several 33kV feeders, including Egba, Oluku, UNIBEN, and Ihovbor lines. Consequently, a significant portion of Benin City and surrounding areas will experience power interruptions. Affected locations specifically named include the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and its environs, Ugbowo, Oluku, Upper Sakponba, Ihovbor, and Egba, along with neighbouring communities.
BEDC apologized for the inconvenience but framed the shutdown as a necessary step to enhance infrastructure. The company stated the upgrade is geared toward strengthening transmission capacity and improving overall service reliability for its customers.
This planned blackout occurs against the backdrop of ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s power sector. The system frequently grapples with constrained generation, often due to inconsistent gas supply to thermal power plants and seasonal variations that affect hydroelectric output. The national grid’s stability remains a persistent issue, with maintenance on key transmission corridors periodically causing widespread disruptions.
The one-month interruption underscores the delicate balance between performing critical infrastructure upgrades and maintaining consistent power delivery in a sector battling systemic weaknesses. Residents and businesses in the affected areas are advised to prepare for the scheduled outage, while BEDC and TCN will be expected to manage the maintenance window efficiently to minimise delays and restore service as planned. The success of such works is pivotal for any meaningful improvement in Nigeria’s national electricity supply.
