By Tina Amanda
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that two transmission towers, T98 and T99, along the Ahoada/Yenagoa 132kV line were vandalized on July 29, 2024, in the Igbogene community of Bayelsa State.
This act of vandalism resulted in the collapse of both towers, cutting off the power supply to Bayelsa State, including TCN’s Yenagoa Substation and the Gbarain Power Station. Also, Yenagoa Metropolis and the entire Bayelsa State remain without a power supply.
Ndidi Mbah, General Manager of Public Affairs, in response, said TCN engineers, led by the General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa, accompanied by personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS), inspected the site of the vandalized towers. Noting that emergency plans are being initiated to mobilize a contractor to reconstruct the collapsed towers and restore power to the affected areas.
“This follows an incident on June 16, 2024, where an individual was caught vandalizing tower T218 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV double circuit transmission lines. Another act of vandalism occurred on June 10, 2024, at the Ahoada Transmission Substation.
“TCN is urging the public to help in the ongoing fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure nationwide. The company will continue to collaborate with security operatives and host communities including the DSS and Civil Defence Corps to combat the menace.
Mbah said further that the company is interfacing with stakeholders including security operatives in Yenagoa to put in place other initiatives geared towards helping TCN curtail the menace within the State.
“As we continue to work towards a robust grid, it is pertinent to note that a nation’s power sector cannot grow efficiently if funds intended for infrastructural expansion are repeatedly used to replace vandalized equipment”.
