By Esther Ososanya
The electricity supply situation in Lagos State has deteriorated following a fire outbreak at the Egbin Power Plant, which damaged a major transformer and disrupted power transmission to several parts of the state, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed on Thursday.
According to a statement by TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah, the fire incident occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 5, damaging a critical 150MVA transformer at the TCN substation. The failure has triggered oil leakage from the transformer’s main tank, resulting in a significant drop in bulk power supply to several parts of Lagos.
“At the time of the incident, a total load of 47 megawatts (MW) was affected. This load was immediately diverted to a second available 150 MVA transformer within the substation, which is now operating under strain,” Mbah said.
Multiple Power Lines, Substations Impacted
The transformer fire has reduced supply to the Ikorodu and Odogunyan 132/33 kV transmission substations, which serve both Ikeja Electric (IKEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) customers.
Also affected are Sagamu Line 1, Sagamu Line 2, and Maryland Line 2 within the 132 kV transmission network.
“This has caused load shedding across all affected areas, and the capacity deficit continues to rise,” Mbah warned.
Investigations into the incident revealed that a faulty 33 kV instrument transformer (CT/VT) installed by Egbin Power Plc was the source of the fire.
The equipment was engulfed in flames, which spread and ultimately damaged TCN’s high-capacity transformer.
READ ALSO: Eko DisCo Declares 25-Day Blackout for Power Line Upgrade
The development compounds an already strained power situation in Lagos, as Ikeja Electric and Eko DisCo had earlier declared a 21-day blackout from July 28 to August 21, 2025, for major maintenance and upgrade works.
Mbah said that TCN has notified IKEDC and EKEDC to manage loads within their franchise areas while urgent arrangements are being made to replace the damaged transformer.
“Please bear with us as we work diligently to replace the damaged transformer and restore normal power supply as soon as possible,” she appealed.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
