- TCN restored the power supply to Bayelsa State after rebuilding towers damaged by vandals in July and August 2024.
- The company is launching a community engagement program to prevent future vandalism and protect power infrastructure in Bayelsa and Rivers states.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully restored bulk power supply through the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV transmission line in Bayelsa State following a series of vandalism incidents that caused a total blackout on July 29, 2024. The restoration comes after contractors completed the reconstruction of collapsed towers and the restringing of damaged conductors.
Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, confirmed that a final inspection was conducted on November 28, 2024, by a team of TCN engineers led by Emmanuel Akpa, the Port Harcourt Region General Manager. The inspection confirmed the integrity of the 20 newly erected towers (Nos. 48–64 and 97–99), which were destroyed during vandalism on July 29 and August 12, 2024. After verifying that the work met all required standards, the line was cleared for energisation.
As part of its efforts to prevent future incidents of large-scale vandalism, TCN announced plans to launch a comprehensive community engagement program across Bayelsa and Rivers states. This initiative will educate local communities about the consequences of vandalism and theft of power infrastructure. It will also involve appointing community representatives to oversee the security of power equipment in their areas, fostering local ownership and accountability.
“These efforts are essential to preventing further disruptions like the total blackout in Bayelsa State since July 2024, which caused significant economic losses for residents and placed a heavy financial burden on TCN to restore the towers,” Mbah said. TCN also appealed to the public to support its nationwide campaign against power infrastructure vandalism, stressing the need for collective action to protect the nation’s electricity assets for sustainable development.