Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Bayelsa State has been plunged into darkness following the attack on two transmission towers by vandals along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line, causing them to collapse, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has announced.
The collapsed towers, T98 and T99, which have cut off power supply to the entire Bayelsa state, including the Yenagoa Substation and Gbarain Power Station, were vandalized last Monday by hoodlums.
Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, said the company’s engineers have inspected the site and plan to mobilize a contractor to reconstruct the towers on an emergency basis.
Mbah in a statement urged the public to join forces with security operatives and host communities to combat the scourge of vandalism and protect Nigeria’s critical infrastructure.
The statement partly reads, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that two transmission towers, T98 and T99 along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line were vandalized on Monday July 29, 2024, in the Igboghene Community of Bayelsa State.
“This incident caused the collapse of both towers, cutting off power supply to Bayelsa State, including TCN’s Yenagoa Substation and the Gbarain Power Station. Presently, Yenagoa Metropolis and the entire Bayelsa State are still without power supply.
“Our engineers led by the General Manager Transmission, Port Harcourt Region, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa and accompanied by men from the DSS have inspected the site of the vandalized towers. Plans are already ongoing to mobilize a contractor on an emergency basis to reconstruct the collapsed towers.”
TCN lamented that this incident was the latest in a series of vandalism attacks on its power transmission infrastructure, including two incidents on June 16 and June 10, 2024 at its T238 tower along the Owerri-Ahoada 132kV double circuit transmission lines and Ahoada Transmission Substation.
The company warns that repeated vandalism hinders the growth of the power sector, as funds meant for expansion are used to replace damaged equipment.
“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.
“Meanwhile, we are 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,” TCN said.
