A power outage affecting thousands of residents in Keffi and Akwanga local government areas of Nasarawa State has persisted since three transmission towers collapsed on October 7, 2026. The Transmission Company of Nigeria said the blackout began at approximately 4:06 p.m. that day following heavy rainfall and strong winds that brought down towers T78, T79 and T80 along the Karu-Keffi-Akwanga 132kV transmission line. The collapse caused transmission lines to trip on over-current relay protection, leaving outgoing 33kV feeders at the Keffi and Akwanga transmission substations unavailable, according to the company.
The technical failure has cut off electricity supply to customers connected to the affected substations. Paul Danjuma, a former staff member of the Nigeria Electric Power Authority, explained that the 132kV transmission line supplies electricity to transmission substations that distribute power through lower-voltage feeders. The collapse of the towers required the line to be isolated for safety reasons, thereby disrupting supply throughout the affected areas. The TCN said its engineers were assessing the extent of damage and determining materials needed for restoration work, while apologising to affected customers and promising updates as work progresses.
The extended outage has created severe hardship for businesses and residents across the region. At Agwan Lambu Market in Keffi, cold-drink seller Chima Oganiru Onubiyi reported a dramatic decline in sales, dropping from selling at least 15 bags of sachet water daily to struggling to sell five bags. He attributed the decline to his inability to chill drinks without electricity. Small business owners across the area have reported falling sales as a result of the blackout.
Students preparing for examinations have been particularly affected. Adachukwu Eze, a student at Nasarawa State University, said the lack of electricity had made night reading impossible and complicated exam preparation at a critical time. She noted that students on campus typically depend on electricity for night study sessions. The heat season has compounded the difficulties, with residents concerned about managing without air conditioning or fans.
The outage has also increased the cost of living for residents who must now pay to charge mobile phones and other electronic devices elsewhere. For thousands of residents, particularly those of Nasarawa State University living in surrounding communities, the disruption has affected multiple aspects of daily life. Affected communities are awaiting rapid restoration of power supply and have appealed to government at all levels, the TCN and the Abuja Electric Distribution Company to prioritise urgent repairs.