TCN Declares Force Majeure on Birnin Kebbi–Niamey Line After Tower Collapse

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared Force Majeure on the 132kV Birnin Kebbi–Niamey transmission line following the collapse of three towers in Kebbi State.

The company said the towers, identified as T109, T110 and T111, collapsed at Chibike village after heavy rain and a windstorm swept through the area.

According to a statement issued by TCN management on Friday, the transmission line tripped at about 5:38pm on August 26, 2026. A trial reclosure attempted at 6:03pm failed as the line tripped again immediately.

The development has disrupted the transmission of bulk electricity to Niamey, the capital city of Niger Republic through the affected line.

TCN said its linesmen were subsequently deployed to patrol the route and locate the source of the fault. The inspection led to the discovery of the three collapsed towers.

The company said it had mobilised personnel and the necessary resources to the affected location, with efforts already underway to rebuild the structures and restore the line.

“TCN has mobilized personnel and resources to the site and will ensure that all hands are on deck to facilitate the speedy rehabilitation of the collapsed towers and return the line to service in the shortest possible time,” the statement said.

The transmission company apologised to customers in Niamey for the disruption and assured them that efforts were being made to restore normal electricity supply as quickly as possible.

The declaration of Force Majeure formally recognises the tower collapse as an event beyond TCN’s control arising from the severe weather conditions.

The Birnin Kebbi–Niamey line forms part of the transmission infrastructure linking Nigeria’s power system with Niger, making its restoration important for electricity supply through the connection.