Traders, residents escape death as TCN power lines explode in Edo

Traders and residents who erected buildings and shops under the Transmission Company of Nigeria transmission lines at the Egor market narrowly escaped death as the power lines exploded and went up in flames.

They fled for their lives as the transmission lines continued to burn. Traders at the market were later seen praying after the fire was put out.

The TCN said the incident caused  disruption at the Benin-Egbin 330KV and the Benin-Omotoso 330KV transmission lines.

It said it caused the national grid to experience voltage instability which spread across the Lagos corridor, leading to the loss of some generating stations, causing transmission line outages, and subsequent interruption of electricity supply to Lagos and its environs.

General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement on Friday, said the National Control Centre instructed several generators to reduce output in order to arrest the resulting frequency rise, stabilise the system, and prevent further disruption to the national grid.

Mbah said the Benin–Egbin 330kV transmission line has been restored and is currently transmitting bulk electricity.

She stated that a combined team of TCN engineers from Benin and Omotoso sub-regions are working to rectify the remaining faults on the 330kV Benin-Omotoso transmission line to ensure full restoration of bulk power supply to the Lagos axis as quickly as possible.

She said, “We deeply regret the inconvenience and discomfort this incident has caused residents, businesses, and all electricity customers in the affected areas. Please be assured that the Ministry of Power and all relevant agencies are doing everything possible to rectify the line, to enable normal bulk power transmission along the affected line.

“Our goal is to stabilise and strengthen the national grid, with the aim of minimising such recurrence.

“We urge all affected consumers to please exercise patience as we work to restore bulk power supply through the Benin – Omotoso transmission line. Updates will be provided as restoration progresses.”

Meanwhile, the Edo state government has marked the buildings and shops for demolition.

Chairman of  the Committee for Protection of Government Properties, Euguene Okoloise, visited the area and sealed up all structures under the powerline.

He said all the structures would be demolished after expiration of seven days ultimatum.

He added, “All structures under the power lines are illegal. If not for God, a lot of people would have died at the Egor incident. I learnt that one person died. I was there for an on the spot assessment.

“We have given them a seven day ultimatum to leave the place. When we give an ultimatum, the next thing is to demolish and we will demolish those buildings. The duty of the government is to protect lives and property. If the citizens do not want to be protected, we will force them to be protected.”