Key Abuja districts to face weeks-long electricity outage

Several key districts of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, will face temporary electricity cuts for almost three weeks as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) carries out planned outages linked to road construction along the Kuje axis.

The outages, scheduled between October 28 and November 16, are part of safety measures during an infrastructure project handled by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), TCN said Tuesday in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

The power interruptions will affect the 132kV Gwagwalada–Kukwaba–Apo Double Circuit Transmission Line, which runs through several urban districts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The affected areas include Apo, Lokogoma, Guzape, Asokoro, Wuye, Utako, Jabi, and the Idu Industrial Layout. These neighborhoods are among the city’s fastest-growing residential and commercial zones, and the outages could temporarily disrupt business operations and household activities.

“In view of ongoing FCDA road works along the Kuje axis, TCN will undertake a planned load management operation involving temporary power interruptions within construction hours to ensure safety,” the company said.

The outages will occur in three phases, each running during daytime working hours:

• Phase 1: October 28 – November 2, 2025 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily)
• Phase 2: November 6 – November 9, 2025 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily)
• Phase 3: November 12 – November 16, 2025 (9 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily)

Power will be restored daily after construction hours, the company added.

Infrastructure Expansion in the FCT

The planned interruptions come as Abuja undergoes an accelerated phase of road network expansion under FCDA supervision. The Kuje corridor, a key link between the city center and satellite towns, is being widened to accommodate increasing urban development and traffic volumes.

“We appeal for public understanding as these planned outages are necessary for safety and to support ongoing infrastructure improvements within the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement said.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria, which manages the national power grid, frequently schedules load management operations to prevent damage to transmission infrastructure during civil engineering works or system maintenance.

Nigeria’s power sector continues to face structural challenges, with frequent transmission constraints and load-shedding in urban areas. Abuja, home to over 3.6 million residents, often experiences planned outages linked to grid maintenance and infrastructure projects.