The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has formally initiated a significant infrastructure project involving the "Turn-In and Turn-Out" of the Benin-Ajaokuta 330KV Single Circuit (SC) Transmission Line at the Ihovbor Power Plant Sub-station. This technical maneuver is a critical component of the national grid’s expansion strategy, designed to enhance the stability and load-carrying capacity of the high-voltage network serving the Edo State axis. In a formal notice disseminated through the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the utility providers have scheduled a daily power outage from 08:00 to 16:00 hours for a duration of thirty-seven days. Commencing on Friday, 27th February, and concluding on Saturday, 4th April 2026, this maintenance window directly impacts four major 33KV feeders, most notably the UNIBEN 33KV line, alongside the Egba, Ihovbor, and Oluku 33KV circuits.
The "Turn-In and Turn-Out" procedure is a sophisticated engineering task that allows a new or existing substation to be integrated into a passing transmission line, effectively "looping" the power through the Ihovbor facility. While this will ultimately result in a more resilient power supply for the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and its environs, the temporary disruption poses a logistical challenge to the academic and administrative functions of the institution. Recognizing the sensitivity of this period, the Vice Chancellor has issued a directive to the University Community, ensuring that the management is proactively implementing contingency measures. These measures are designed to decouple the University’s essential operations from the national grid’s maintenance schedule, utilizing the institution’s internal power generation assets to mitigate the impact of the eight-hour daily outage.
The University’s response strategy focuses on maintaining the continuity of research, examinations, and ICT-driven services. By identifying the March 2026 window as a period of restricted grid availability, the Directorate of Works and Services is expected to prioritize power distribution to critical sectors such as the University Library, science laboratories requiring constant refrigeration, and the Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers. This internal load management is essential to ensure that the "normal processes" of the University—particularly those involving final-year research projects and mid-semester assessments—remain uninterrupted. The Vice Chancellor’s assurance serves as a stabilizer for the campus environment, signaling that the institution is not merely a passive consumer of utility services but an active manager of its own energy requirements.
Furthermore, the duration of thirty-seven days encompasses a significant portion of the first semester, requiring a high degree of adaptability from both staff and students residing in the hostels. Members of the University Community are encouraged to synchronize their high-energy activities with the periods outside the 08:00 to 16:00 window or utilize the designated "power hubs" provided by the management during the blackout hours. The emphasis on "adaptation" reflects the reality of Nigeria’s current energy landscape, where institutional resilience is built through a combination of grid-dependency and robust local backup systems. The management’s commitment to providing an alternative power supply during these hours underscores the priority placed on student welfare and academic excellence.
As the TCN project advances toward its April 4th conclusion, the University of Benin stands as a model of proactive crisis communication. By providing clear timelines and specifying the affected feeders—Egba, UNIBEN, Ihovbor, and Oluku—the administration allows departmental heads to adjust their schedules accordingly. This level of transparency prevents the administrative friction that often arises from unexpected utility failures. Ultimately, the successful navigation of this thirty-seven-day period will serve as a testament to the University’s operational maturity, ensuring that while the national grid undergoes its necessary evolution at Ihovbor, the "Better by Far" academic spirit of UNIBEN remains energized and undeterred.