- Bayelsa State is facing a potential power outage lasting several months following the destruction of 13 transmission towers on the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit line.
- TCN’s managing director, Sule Abdulaziz, described the incident as a national disaster and called on the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa States to assist in addressing the escalating vandalism.
Bayelsa State risks a power blackout lasting several months due to severe damage inflicted on crucial transmission infrastructure by vandals. On Thursday, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealed that vandals destroyed 13 Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line towers.
The destruction, affecting towers T97 to T99, occurred on July 29 and was initially reported by the youth president of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State on August 12. The affected towers are scattered across several communities, including Okobe and Emezhi 1 in Ahoada East and West Local Government Areas of Rivers State and the Igbogene community in Bayelsa State.
TCN’s team, led by General Manager of Transmission Emmanuel Akpa, visited the site near the Ahoada transmission substation to evaluate the damage. Their inspection confirmed that towers T52 to T64 were severely impacted, with nine towers completely collapsed and four others precariously hanging.
Sule Abdulaziz, the Managing Director of TCN, labelled the incident a national disaster. He urged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa States to support combating the escalating issue of vandalism targeting power installations.
The recent vandalism follows a prior incident on July 29, when towers T97 to T99 were destroyed on the same transmission route. TCN is currently working to rebuild these damaged towers and has awarded a contract for reinforcing towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, which had also suffered vandalism and theft.
Despite these ongoing efforts, the latest attack presents a significant setback for TCN. The Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit Transmission line is vital for transporting power from the Ahoada substation to Yenagoa, which supplies electricity to the entire Bayelsa State.
Given the extensive damage and the ongoing reconstruction work on previously vandalised towers, it may take several months to fully restore power to the state.
TCN has appealed to security forces, local communities, traditional leaders, and state governments to collaborate to prevent further vandalism. The company emphasises the urgent need for collective action to safeguard critical infrastructure and ensure a reliable power supply for Bayelsa State.