The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has swiftly mobilized efforts to restore electricity supply to Bayelsa State following an act of vandalism that disrupted power transmission in the region. The incident in the Igbooghene community resulted in the collapse of two critical transmission towers, T98 and T99, along the Ahoada/Yenagoa 132kV line.
According to Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, the vandalism incident severely affected Yenagoa Metropolis and the entire Bayelsa State, including TCN’s Yenagoa Sub-station and the Gbarain Power Station. She emphasized that the damage caused an immediate halt to the power supply in the area.
In response, TCN swiftly dispatched engineers, led by Emmanuel Akpa, the general manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, along with operatives of the State Security Service, to assess the extent of the damage. The inspection confirmed the towers’ collapse and the urgent need for reconstruction.
“Plans are already underway to engage a contractor on an emergency basis to reconstruct the collapsed towers,” stated Mrs Mbah in a recent statement.
The incident on Monday, June 16, 2024, when a vandal was caught destroying tower T238 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV double circuit transmission lines, and another act of vandalism at the Ahoada Transmission Substation on June 10 underscore the ongoing challenges faced by TCN due to such criminal activities.
Despite these setbacks, TCN remains resolute in its commitment to combating vandalism of power infrastructure nationwide. The company urged the public to collaborate in fighting against such acts, emphasizing that continual acts of vandalism divert funds for infrastructural expansion and maintenance, hindering the nation’s power sector growth.
“While we work diligently to restore power to Bayelsa, TCN is engaging with stakeholders and security operatives in Yenagoa to implement additional measures to curb vandalism within the state,” TCN affirmed.
The cooperation between TCN and security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and Civil Defence Corps, remains crucial in safeguarding Nigeria’s power infrastructure from malicious activities.
As TCN continues its efforts to enhance the resilience of the national power grid, the rapid response to the recent vandalism incident in Bayelsa highlights the organization’s determination to minimize downtime and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to the citizens of Bayelsa State.