22 April 2014, Abuja – The power outage in Yawuri, Kontangora and other bordering towns in Niger State have been attributed to the destruction of four transmission lines in the state by the heavy rainfall and wind which occurred in the area last Friday.
According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the four towers, numbers 48, 49, 50 and 51 were destroyed as a result of the incident at Corner Mariga, after Tegina in Niger State, causing blackout in the area.
TCN said it had mobilised to site necessary materials for the construction of a transmission bye-pass which would temporarily replace the 132kV transmission line from Tegina to Kotangora.
The company’s Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Dave Ifabiyi, explained that sequel to the loss of the four transmission towers, TCN could not transmit electricity on the 132kV transmission line from Shiroro to Kotangora.
Ifabiyi, in a statement on Monday, said lines engineers promptly isolated the defective axis of the 132kV transmission line from Tegina to Kotangora and re-energised it from Shiroro to Tegina.
“Also, TCN is making concerted efforts to restore supply to Kontangora and Yawuri towns by constructing a bye-pass that would divert power temporary from the fallen towers to Kontagora, Yawuri and environs,” the statement added.
It stated that 132 poles were sent to Kotangora and were being moved to the various construction sites along with other materials that would be used for the construction of the temporal transmission line bye-pass.
The company stated that the areas initially affected by the incident include Meriga, Tegina, Birinin Gwari as well as Kotangora and Yawuri towns.
It said, “However, due to the quick response of TCN lines engineering team, the Shiroro-Tegina 132 kV transmission line was restored on the same day of the incident, causing power supply to be restored to Meriga, Tegina, Birinin Gwari and suburb.”
Power supply, the company said, would be restored to Kotangora and Yawuri towns within 10 days, when the construction work on the 132kV transmission line bye-pass from Tegina to Kotangora is expected to be completed.
It added, “TCN regrets inconveniences the incident has caused the government and people of Niger State and has pledged to fast track the construction of the transmission bye-pass to ensure prompt restoration of power supply to the affected areas while it plans the permanent reconstruction of the affected towers.”
– The Punch
