Storm collapses three transmission towers in Nasarawa
Oct 2026Published 8 Oct 2026Responsible editor: George, Chief Editor
Companies named in this entry: Transmission Company of Nigeria
What happened
A severe thunderstorm in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, collapsed three towers on the Karu-Keffi-Akwanga 132kV single-circuit transmission line on 7 October 2026. The Transmission Company of Nigeria said the line tripped on overcurrent protection at about 16:06 during rain and wind, and that field checks found towers T78, T79 and T80 had buckled. All 33kV outgoing feeders at the 132/33kV Keffi and Akwanga substations were unavailable, cutting bulk supply to distributors serving Keffi and Akwanga. TCN isolated and de-energised the line. Engineers were assessing the damage. No restoration date was given. Injuries and fatalities were not mentioned.
Contributing factors
TCN attributed the trip and the tower collapses to intense rain and wind in a thunderstorm. No detailed structural finding has been published.
Lessons learned
- Transmission corridors in storm-prone areas need weather-resilient tower design and inspection.
- After an overcurrent trip, isolate the affected line until the cause is known.
- Restoration plans should allow for access to storm-damaged terrain and the lead time for replacement structures.
More lessons on weather and external hazards, electrical protection and isolation, from every incident on the register.
Source
Published 2026-10-08. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.