Grid Upgrade Halts Power Supply To Bauchi, Gombe, Yola – NISO

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has announced a planned power interruption affecting Bauchi, Gombe, Yola and neighbouring communities to allow the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to fit an Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) on the Jos–Bauchi–Gombe 330kV transmission corridor.

The outage will start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, and end at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, 2026. NISO said the work also requires a temporary shutdown of the Jos–Bauchi–Gombe 132kV line to create a safe working environment for engineers conducting the installation.

Electricity supply in the affected areas will therefore be suspended for the duration of the exercise.

NISO described the OPGW installation as part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s transmission network by improving grid monitoring, communications and overall reliability. The upgrade is intended to enhance grid operations and long‑term supply stability across the region.

The system operator asked consumers, distribution companies and market operators in the impacted zones to cooperate and plan accordingly, and apologised for any inconvenience caused during the maintenance window.

Optical Ground Wire is a composite cable installed at the top of transmission towers. It serves two purposes: act as a grounding/shield wire to protect the line from lightning strikes, and host optical fibres that transmit data between substations and control centres. The fibres support supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), protection relays, and other critical communications that underpin modern grid operations.