The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has declared a force majeure on its Oworonshoki 132/33kV and Lekki 330/132kV transmission substations following severe flooding triggered by persistent rainfall across Lagos, raising fresh concerns over electricity supply to thousands of customers in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The declaration, announced in a statement signed by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reflects what the company described as “extraordinary circumstances” beyond its reasonable control that have significantly impaired operations at one substation while placing another at substantial risk.
According to TCN, the Oworonshoki 132/33kV transmission substation has become completely non-operational after floodwaters submerged critical underground cables connected to two major power transformers, a 60-megavolt ampere (60MVA) transformer, identified as TR1, and a 30MVA (TR3) unit. Both transformers subsequently tripped, and technical teams have been unable to safely restore them due to the continued flooding.
A force majeure is a legal provision that temporarily relieves a party from fulfilling contractual obligations when extraordinary events, such as natural disasters, make normal operations impossible. In this case, TCN said the flooding has made it impossible to maintain normal power transmission services from the affected facilities.
While the Lekki 330/132kV transmission substation remains operational, the company warned that it faces an imminent flooding threat. Engineers have intensified round-the-clock water evacuation efforts using industrial pumps to prevent floodwaters from reaching critical equipment. However, continuous rainfall has complicated those operations, increasing the risk of further disruption.
The company warned that the incident is expected to affect bulk electricity supply delivered to the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko DisCo), potentially resulting in localized load-shedding and supply interruptions across parts of Lagos served by the distribution utility.
The latest disruption highlights the vulnerability of Nigeria’s electricity transmission infrastructure to extreme weather events, particularly during the peak rainy season. Energy analysts have repeatedly stressed the need for stronger climate-resilient infrastructure, improved drainage systems around critical substations, and sustained investment in flood mitigation measures to reduce operational risks.
TCN said it is continuously monitoring the situation and has deployed all available technical and operational resources to contain the impact of the flooding, safeguard the Lekki facility, and restore normal operations as soon as environmental conditions permit.
The transmission company did not provide a timeline for full restoration but assured electricity market participants and consumers that further updates would be issued as weather conditions evolve and recovery efforts progress.
