The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported the destruction of two critical transmission towers, T98 and T99, along the Ahoada/Yenagoa 132kV line in the Igbooghene community of Bayelsa State. The incident, attributed to vandalism, has resulted in significant power outages across the region.
Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN's General Manager of Public Affairs, made this announcement in a statement released on Friday. Mbah revealed that the collapse of the towers has disrupted power supply to the entirety of Bayelsa State, affecting crucial infrastructure such as TCN’s Yenagoa Sub-station and the Gbarain Power Station.
"Currently, Yenagoa Metropolis and the entire Bayelsa are without power supply," Mbah stated. In response to the incident, TCN engineers, led by Mr Emmanuel Akpa, General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, have inspected the site along with operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS).
"Plans are already underway to mobilize a contractor on an emergency basis to reconstruct the collapsed towers," Mbah assured.
This act of vandalism follows a similar incident on June 16, where an individual was caught destroying tower T238 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV double-circuit transmission lines. Additionally, on June 10, another act of vandalism occurred at the Ahoada Transmission Substation.
The TCN has urged the public to support the fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure. The company emphasized its ongoing collaboration with security operatives and local communities, including the DSS and the Civil Defence Corps, to address the issue.
"We are also engaging with stakeholders and security operatives in Yenagoa to implement initiatives aimed at curtailing this menace within the state," Mbah added.
The TCN highlighted the broader implications of such vandalism, noting that the continuous diversion of funds meant for infrastructural expansion to replace vandalized equipment hampers the growth and efficiency of the nation's power sector.
"As we strive to develop a robust grid, it is crucial to understand that a nation's power sector cannot thrive efficiently if resources intended for expansion are persistently diverted to address vandalism," Mbah concluded.
