The University of Benin (UNIBEN) and residents of Oluku, Egba, and the Ihovbor environs will experience power outages for up to 10 hours daily in March, according to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Benin Region.

Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s general manager, public affairs, disclosed this in a notification issued in Abuja on Sunday.

She said the notification was to alert customers of a scheduled outage on the Benin–Ajaokuta 330-kilovolt (kV) transmission line.

The company said the outage was to facilitate ongoing restringing works at the Ihovbor Power Plant Turn-In/Turn-Out substation.

Ms Mbah said the project began on February 27 and would run through March 31, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily.

She explained that the exercise was necessary to enable TCN’s contractor to continue the restringing works on the 330kV transmission line connected to the Ihovbor Power Plant.

“Additionally, the project requires temporary power interruptions because the transmission line crosses major highways along the Benin–Ajaokuta axis.

“Road safety agencies have been duly notified and will be on standby to ensure public safety throughout the construction period,” she said.

Ms Mbah stated that during the period, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) would be unable to supply electricity to its customers in the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Oluku, Egba, and Ihovbor environs for up to 10 hours daily.

According to her, the restringing activities will be suspended each day at 6:00 p.m., after which the affected feeders will be restored.

“This means that BEDC will be able to off-take electricity to the affected areas from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. the following day.

“TCN apologises for any inconvenience this may cause and assures all affected customers that full bulk power supply will be restored to the DisCo upon completion of the project,” she said.

(NAN)