Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Transmission Company of Nigeria says the ongoing blackout being experience in Bayelsa State, was a a result of the barricade and shut down of its substation by youths of Ahoada town in Rivers State.
The Ahoada substation, according to TCN, gets power from Owerri, which is transmitted through Elele, Ahoada town and down to Bayelsa State.
Speaking, the General Manager of TCN, Port Harcourt Region, Engr. Thomas Inugonum, lamented the frequency of attacks on the Ahoada substation by the people of Ahoada, who are demanding for uninterrupted power supply from the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company.
Inugonum wondered why the protesters who threatened to burn down the substation, would habitually shutdown the TCN facility, whereas they have issues with PHED – the distributor, and not with the transmission company.
“Ahoada community decided to shutdown the substation down whenever they have issues with distribution (PHED), their issue is not with transmission but with PHED over supply of power.
“But because they knew that the power supply is from transmission, instead of going to PHED office, they came to our station and shut it down and threatened to burn it down if we come in to activate the system.
“As I speak, the community has taken over that place, barricading it.
“As a result of the shutdown of Ahoada substation, the whole of Bayelsa State is in the dark, which is not acceptable.”
The TCN regional boss also disclosed that efforts were being made by the Bayelsa State Government to get the Federal Ministry of Power to intervene on the matter.
“My intention is to speak with the governor of Bayelsa State to speak with his colleague in Rivers State, because Port Harcourt region covers six states, namely Cross River, Imo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom State
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aide to see how government infrastructure can be protected from vandals and hoodlums. If this is done, then power can be restored to Bayelsa State.
“We wouldn’t want a situation where my men will go there to retire power and they will be attacked. So we are looking at solving the problem through government officials.
“The government of Bayelsa State has sent people to Abuja to see the Minister of Power as well as the Managing Director of TCN. So we are waiting for the ministry and the government to wade in and allow us to take over our facility and reactivate the system.”
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