The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed a nationwide blackout caused by a workers’ strike.
Beyond Boders reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) began their strike on Monday, protesting the government’s proposed N60,000 minimum wage.
In an official statement, TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, reported that the power grid shutdown happened early Monday morning, around 2:19 am, due to deliberate actions by union members.
“The labour union has shut down the national grid, resulting in a blackout nationwide. The national grid shut down occurred at about 2.19am this morning, June 3, 2024,” Mbah stated.
The Benin Transmission Operator reported that union members forced operators out of control rooms, injuring some staff who resisted.
The shutdown affected several key substations, including Ganmo, Benin, Ayede, Olorunsogo, Akangba, and Osogbo.
Power generating stations also suffered. For example, the Jebba Generating Station had to shut down one unit, with three others following due to high frequency and system instability. This instability led to the complete grid shutdown at 2:19 am.
TCN has started efforts to restore the grid, beginning with the Shiroro Substation. However, union actions are still hindering these recovery attempts.
“We are working to stabilize the grid and restore normal electricity transmission across the nation,” Mbah added.
More details to follow…
