TCN fault prolongs blackout in Jalingo, Yola ahead of scheduled weekend outage
Residents of Jalingo in Taraba State and Yola in Adamawa State have been without electricity for three days after a fault at the Transmission Company of Nigeria's 132kV transmission station in Yola tripped at 5:55 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The fault knocked out all 33 kV feeders supplying the Yola Electricity Distribution Company, plunging homes, businesses and public institutions in both cities into darkness. Adding to the hardship, TCN has announced a planned maintenance outage from 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, July 26, affecting Bauchi, Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Jalingo and surrounding areas; the fault means the blackout will continue even after repairs are finished. YEDC says TCN engineers are working to clear the fault, but the previously scheduled outage remains in effect. Business owners report relying on costly generators, raising operating costs amid already high living expenses, while households face disrupted routines and spoiled goods. The outage highlights the northeast's fragile power grid, where a single transmission fault can cut power across multiple states. Residents should budget for extra fuel, consider alternative power sources where possible, and monitor YEDC updates for restoration timelines.