Lagos Power Outage: Ikeja Electric Blames TCN as Businesses, Homes Groan

Residents and businesses in several parts of Lagos are enduring prolonged power outages, with Ikeja Electric attributing the disruption to significant constraints on the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) network.

The development has triggered frustration among electricity consumers who say the prolonged blackout is disrupting household activities and commercial operations, while increasing their dependence on generators and other alternative sources of power.

Ikeja Electric, one of Nigeria’s largest electricity distribution companies, said the situation was caused by a reduction in the amount of electricity available to it from the transmission network.

According to the company, the transmission constraints have affected the volume of power it can distribute to customers across parts of its franchise area, resulting in extended periods of load-shedding.

The company said it was engaging with TCN over the situation and was working to improve supply to affected communities as soon as additional transmission capacity becomes available.

The latest disruption has affected customers in several parts of Lagos, with residents in areas including Akoka, Egbeda, Ojodu Berger, Ogudu and Shomolu reporting prolonged interruptions.

Some residents said electricity supply had been unavailable for several consecutive days, while others reported intermittent restoration followed by further outages.

The disruption has also affected small businesses and households that rely heavily on electricity for daily activities.

Business operators such as barbers, hairdressers, food vendors, cold-room operators, charging-centre owners, internet-dependent businesses and other small enterprises have been particularly affected by the unreliable supply.

For many households, prolonged outages have also affected refrigeration, water pumping, phone charging, internet access and other basic activities that depend on electricity.

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The situation has forced some residents and businesses to increase their use of generators, adding to operating costs at a time when fuel and other energy expenses remain high.

Some consumers have also resorted to commercial charging centres and other paid alternatives to keep phones, rechargeable devices and business equipment operational.

The latest disruption comes amid continuing challenges across Nigeria’s electricity value chain, where problems involving generation, gas supply, transmission infrastructure and distribution networks can affect electricity availability to consumers.

TCN operates the country’s transmission network, while electricity distribution companies such as Ikeja Electric are responsible for delivering available power to customers through their distribution networks.

This distinction is significant in the latest Lagos outage because Ikeja Electric has attributed the immediate supply shortfall to constraints on the transmission network, rather than announcing a fault affecting its entire distribution system.

Power interruptions in Lagos, however, have previously resulted from different causes.

Parts of the state have experienced outages linked to distribution equipment faults, infrastructure damage, planned maintenance and other incidents affecting electricity infrastructure.

Earlier disruptions in Lagos have also been associated with incidents such as tanker fires damaging electricity infrastructure, while transmission maintenance and constraints have caused supply reductions in other instances.

The varying causes mean that the duration and geographical spread of an outage can differ significantly from one community or electricity feeder to another.

Ikeja Electric has apologised to affected customers over the latest disruption and said it understands the difficulties caused by the reduced supply.

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The company said it was monitoring developments and engaging relevant stakeholders in an effort to restore improved electricity supply.

The latest development has again highlighted concerns over the vulnerability of Lagos residents and businesses to fluctuations in electricity supply.

For many small businesses, prolonged blackouts mean additional spending on diesel or petrol-powered generators, while households face similar costs when alternative electricity sources are required.

The disruption also comes at a time when businesses are already dealing with high operating costs, making extended reliance on generators an additional financial burden.

Consumers have increasingly called for more reliable electricity supply and better coordination among the different operators in Nigeria’s power sector.

The TCN, generation companies and distribution companies form interconnected parts of the electricity supply chain, meaning a constraint at one stage can quickly affect consumers downstream.

For Ikeja Electric customers, the immediate expectation is that transmission constraints will ease and supply will gradually improve across the affected feeders.

Until then, residents and businesses in the affected areas may continue to experience irregular electricity supply depending on available transmission capacity and the operational condition of individual distribution feeders.

The latest outage has therefore renewed the debate over Nigeria’s long-standing electricity challenges and the need for sustained investment in power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to provide more stable electricity for homes and businesses.

For Lagos, where thousands of businesses depend on electricity for daily operations, prolonged outages carry consequences beyond inconvenience, affecting productivity, household welfare and the cost of doing business.

Ikeja Electric said it would continue to provide updates as the situation develops and work with TCN to improve supply to affected customers.

Lagos Power Outage: Ikeja Electric Blames TCN as Businesses, Homes Groan

Sokoto Shuts Mosque After Cleric Stabbing, Names Ulamas Probe Panel

The Sokoto State Government has ordered the immediate closure of the Musa Lukuwa Jumu’at Mosque in Mabera, Sokoto metropolis, after a cleric was stabbed during Friday prayers and his attacker was killed by an angry mob.

The mosque, which the government describes as a crime scene, will remain shut until further notice. A committee of Islamic scholars (Ulamas) has also been constituted to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the incident and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence. The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Director General, Media and Publicity, Government House, Abubakar Bawa.

The crisis began on Friday, September 11, 2026, shortly after Malam Musa Lukuwa led the Jumu’at prayer. A young man among the worshippers attacked the cleric, stabbing him twice in the neck and left hand. Worshippers overpowered the suspect and beat him to death before security operatives could arrive. Police spokesman DSP Ahmad Rufa’i confirmed that the cleric was rushed to the Specialist Hospital in Sokoto, where he was treated and later discharged. Lukuwa subsequently appeared in a video circulated on social media, with a plaster covering part of his neck, appealing for calm and assuring his followers that he was in stable condition. The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Hassan Shaffa, condemned the mob action as jungle justice and urged residents to allow due process. “It is imperative that we allow the law to take its course to ensure justice is served appropriately,” Shaffa said. Security personnel have been deployed to Mabera and other flashpoints, while investigations into both the stabbing and the mob killing continue. No arrest has been made in connection with the lynching.

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The attack was reportedly linked to a previous sermon in which the cleric cited a Hadith that some scholars, particularly those associated with the Tariqa order, considered offensive to the parents of Prophet Muhammad. Following the controversy, a young man identified as Mai Barewa allegedly threatened to kill Malam Musa Lukuwa and his senior student, Malam Murtala Assada. The cleric and his followers reported the threat to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest and arraignment. A court later ordered that he be remanded in a correctional facility while the case remained pending. Four days before Friday’s incident, the clerics had also visited the Sokoto State Government House to submit a written complaint. The incident triggered protests and heightened tension around Sahara, Bello Way and Aliyu Jodi, with some businesses closing temporarily as security operatives moved into strategic locations. It came only days after protests erupted over the continued remand of another cleric, Dahiru Mai Barewa, who was accused of threatening Lukuwa and Malam Murtala Bello Assada. Police subsequently arrested about 20 people in connection with that protest.

The government said the committee would examine the circumstances surrounding the tension and make recommendations in the interest of peace and stability in the state. It also ordered a full investigation into the attack and the subsequent killing at the mosque. The state government further dissociated itself from any person, irrespective of status, who hides under the pretext of religion to undermine or disrespect Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), his parents, household and companions. It reaffirmed its “total obedience and respect” for the Prophet, his parents, household and companions, while urging residents to continue to show love and compassion to him. The government appealed to residents to desist from making inciting statements capable of jeopardising the peaceful coexistence for which Sokoto is known. It assured residents of its commitment to protecting the lives and property of every citizen in the state.

Malam Musa Lukuwa is an Islamic cleric from Lukuwa village in Gwadabawa Local Government Area of Sokoto State. He was among the early scholars associated with the Izala movement when it began gaining prominence in Sokoto State. He later became associated with the Salafiyya school of thought and established his own mosque, where he teaches Islamic studies and preaches to his followers. Lukuwa is known for his strict emphasis on adherence to the Qur’an and Hadith. His interpretation of religious practices, particularly issues surrounding the sighting of the crescent moon, has at times differed from the position announced by the Sultan of Sokoto. He maintains that decisions on the commencement and termination of fasting should be based on what he considers credible evidence of the sighting of the crescent, in line with the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith.

Sokoto Shuts Mosque After Cleric Stabbing, Names Ulamas Probe Panel

A Son Wouldn’t Have Done Better — Dangote Speaks on Daughters, Succession

Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said having a son is not a priority for him, stressing that he is proud of the achievements of his three daughters and does not believe a male heir would necessarily have performed better.

Dangote made the disclosure in an interview with Arise News, where he was asked about family, succession and whether he wished to have a son who could eventually carry on his name and business legacy.

The billionaire said he was content with his three daughters and did not consider having a male child necessary for the continuation of his legacy.

Dangote said he believes his daughters have performed exceptionally well and that he would not assume a son would have achieved more simply because of his gender.

“I don’t think a son would have done better than the three daughters I have,” he said.

The remarks have drawn attention because Dangote has built one of Africa’s largest privately controlled business empires, with interests spanning cement, fertiliser, sugar, salt, petrochemicals, refining, logistics and other industrial sectors.

His three daughters — Mariya, Halima and Fatima Dangote — have increasingly become associated with the family’s business and philanthropic interests, making their roles relevant to discussions about the future of the conglomerate.

The billionaire’s position also challenges the traditional expectation that a family-owned business of such scale should be inherited or controlled primarily by a male successor.

Rather than focusing on the gender of a potential heir, Dangote’s comments indicate an emphasis on competence, responsibility and the ability to preserve and develop the family’s legacy.

The issue of succession planning has become increasingly important for the Dangote business empire as the group expands into new areas and some of its major assets move into a new phase of development.

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One of the most significant developments is the planned public offering involving the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has become the flagship investment of Dangote’s industrial expansion in Nigeria.

The refinery, located in the Lekki area of Lagos, has a processing capacity of about 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day and began commercial operations in 2024.

The facility has transformed Dangote’s business interests by giving the group a major position in Nigeria’s petroleum-refining industry while reducing dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

The refinery is also at the centre of an ambitious initial public offering (IPO) aimed at raising additional capital and broadening ownership of the business.

The development could mark an important transition for one of Dangote’s most valuable assets, with the billionaire seeking to raise funds for further expansion while retaining significant control.

Beyond his commercial interests, Dangote’s succession arrangements also include a major philanthropic component.

His family has agreed to dedicate one-third of his estate to philanthropy, with the Aliko Dangote Foundation expected to play a central role in managing the charitable component of his legacy.

The foundation has supported initiatives in areas including healthcare, nutrition, education and humanitarian assistance, making philanthropy an important part of Dangote’s public legacy.

The decision to commit a substantial portion of his estate to charitable causes means that his succession plans are not limited to determining who will control his business interests.

It also establishes a framework for using part of his wealth to support social and humanitarian programmes beyond the commercial activities of the Dangote Group.

The combination of business succession and philanthropy could therefore shape how Dangote’s legacy is preserved long after his active involvement in the group.

His daughters’ growing prominence within the family’s affairs is particularly significant against this background.

Rather than waiting for the emergence of a male heir, the family’s current direction suggests that the next generation of leadership can be built around the capabilities of existing heirs.

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Dangote’s comments also reflect a broader shift in attitudes towards family business succession, particularly among major African business families where traditional expectations have often placed greater emphasis on male inheritance.

For the businessman, however, gender does not appear to be the determining factor in assessing his children’s ability to carry forward his achievements.

His three daughters have established themselves in different areas of the family’s business and philanthropic interests, giving them experience that could become increasingly valuable as the conglomerate enters its next phase.

The succession question is particularly relevant because Dangote has spent decades building the group from a trading operation into a diversified industrial conglomerate with investments across Africa.

The Dangote Group is now one of Nigeria’s most prominent corporate organisations, with its operations contributing significantly to the country’s manufacturing, employment, export and industrial sectors.

The Dangote Refinery has added another strategic dimension to the group, particularly as Nigeria seeks to strengthen domestic refining capacity and reduce its reliance on imported petroleum products.

Its expansion, alongside the group’s existing cement and fertiliser businesses, means that decisions about future ownership and management will have implications beyond the Dangote family.

Dangote’s latest remarks therefore provide an insight into how he views the relationship between family, succession and legacy.

His message is that having a son is not necessary to secure the future of his name or business empire, particularly when his daughters have already demonstrated their capacity and commitment.

As the Dangote Group enters another period of expansion and restructuring, attention is likely to remain focused on the roles of his daughters, the future ownership of major assets and the implementation of the family’s philanthropic commitments.

For Dangote, the measure of succession appears to be less about whether the next generation includes a male heir and more about whether those entrusted with his legacy can preserve its value, expand its impact and use part of it to benefit society.

A Son Wouldn’t Have Done Better — Dangote Speaks on Daughters, Succession