Abuja power shutdown: AEDC confirms two-day blackout for State House, DSS, and other key facilities

The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has announced a planned power outage that will hit the Federal Capital Territory this weekend, cutting supply to the State House Villa, DSS headquarters, and several other high-profile government and military installations.

In a public notice, AEDC confirmed that the outage will run through Saturday, July 19, and Sunday, July 20, 2026. The company attributed the service suspension to the relocation of two electric power towers, designated H3 and H5, at the 132/33kV Apo Transmission Station.

Why the power will go off

AEDC stated that the work is being carried out to accommodate an ongoing road construction project by the Federal Capital Development Authority. The relocation of the towers is necessary to clear the way for the road project, forcing a temporary shutdown of electricity supply in the affected areas.

The distribution company apologised for the inconvenience the outage would cause and asked customers to exercise patience while the maintenance work is completed. AEDC also directed anyone seeking further clarification or updates to reach out through its official customer service channels.

Full list of affected areas

Among the facilities listed by AEDC are the State House Villa, the National Security Adviser's headquarters, the Supreme Court, the National Judicial Council, the National Assembly, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Defence Intelligence Agency headquarters, the State House Clinic, the DSS headquarters, the ECOWAS Secretariat, the World Bank office, IBB Golf Club, and the General Hospital Asokoro.

Several military formations are also on the list, including Lungi Barracks, Mambilla Barracks, Aguyi Ironsi Barracks, Niger Barracks, Gowon Barracks, the Army War College, the Army Museum, and the Army Intelligence Unit.

The governors' lodges for Kano, Sokoto, and Imo states in the capital will equally be without supply during the period.

Beyond government and security installations, several residential and commercial addresses will also be without electricity. These include Aso Drive, Asokoro Extension, Gado Nasko Street, Yakubu Gowon Crescent, TY Danjuma Street, Jose Marti Street, Samora Machel Street, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Nelson Mandela Street, Desmond Tutu Street, Haile Selassie Street, Udo Udoma Street, Senator Obiora Street, and surrounding areas.

What this means for residents and businesses

The planned shutdown affects some of the most sensitive federal facilities in the country, including the seat of presidential power and key security agencies. For businesses and residents in the affected areas, the two-day blackout means reliance on generators for power during the weekend. The outage also comes shortly after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced a separate 7-hour scheduled power outage for preventive maintenance at the Katampe 132/33kV Transmission Substation, indicating ongoing grid maintenance challenges in the nation's capital.