**Power Outage Looms: Benin-Ajaokuta Transmission Line Maintenance to Cause Daily Blackouts** Residents of Benin City and its environs are in for a challenging month as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced plans to carry out a major maintenance exercise on the Benin-Ajaokuta 330 KV transmission line. This critical infrastructure upgrade is expected to cause daily power outages for up to 10 hours in the affected areas, including the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Oluku, Egba, and Ihovbor communities. The planned outage is a result of the TCN's effort to restring the transmission line, which is a critical component of the country's power grid. According to Mrs Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN's Benin Region, the maintenance exercise is necessary to ensure the line's efficiency and stability. "We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause, but we cannot compromise on the safety and reliability of our transmission infrastructure," she said in a statement. The outage is expected to affect several communities in the Benin metropolis, including UNIBEN, which is a major learning institution in the country. Students, lecturers, and staff of the university will have to contend with power outages for several hours each day, which may impact their academic and research activities. Residents of Oluku, Egba, and Ihovbor, on the other hand, will also experience disruptions in their daily lives, including disruptions to businesses and other essential services. The TCN has assured Nigerians that the maintenance exercise is a necessary step towards ensuring the reliability and efficiency of the country's power grid. While the outage may cause some inconvenience, it is a short-term sacrifice for a long-term gain. The TCN has promised to work closely with relevant stakeholders, including the Edo State Government, to minimize the impact of the outage and ensure that the maintenance exercise is completed as quickly as possible. As the country continues to grapple with the challenges of inadequate power supply, the TCN's maintenance exercise is a welcome development. It is a testament to the company's commitment to providing reliable and efficient power transmission services to Nigerians. While the outage may cause some temporary disruption, it is a necessary step towards building a more resilient and efficient power grid for the country.