Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has raised the alarm over incessant excavation, vandalism and theft of its transmission equipment across the country, regretting that lack of stable power stifles economic growth.
TCN explained that the menace was affecting its investment plans, as funds earmarked for grid expansion was being channelled into repairing vandalised equipment.
The company. on its verified Twitter handle,
said most of these cases were being recorded in Akwa Ibom, Edo, Kwara, Imo and Osun states as well as the Federal Capital, Abuja.
It added that the Acting Managing Director of TCN, Engr Dr Sule Abdulaziz, has intensified efforts at rehabilitating transmission infrastructure and expanding network nationwide, but the company keeps experiencing setbacks due to incessant vandalism and theft of its transmission equipment.
“This affects our investment plans as funds earmarked for grid expansion is ploughed into repairing vandalized equipment. Vandalism causes system disturbance which could lead to grid collapse.
“Some of the recent cases of vandalism are, Tower number 104 at Oku Iboku in Akwa Ibom State, along the 330kilovolts (kV) Ikot-Ekpene to Odukpani transmission line. It led to system collapse of April 8, 2022 at around 6:30pm. 330kV Sapele to Benin transmission line tripped off around March 2022 after a series of attacks that affected some towers under it.
“Brand new 330kV Osogbo to Akure power transmission line. Two towers, fell causing a delay in the project execution,” the company said.
TCN also lamented the excavation of sand around transmission tower bases, while calling on members of the public to collaborate with TCN against vandals of power transmission facilities, by reporting suspicious activities around power transmission lines to security operatives.
It said: “What of the laterite excavation around the transmission tower base! This causes erosion which in turns threatens the integrity of our tower base and can eventually cause its collapse.
“This is rampant in Abuja, Nekede in Imo State, Enugu, Osogbo areas, among others.
“We cannot mention it all. We enjoin all to work with TCN to fight this war against vandals of power transmission facilities.
“You can contribute your quota by reporting suspicious activities around power transmission lines to security operatives, TCN Offices closest to you or by dialing 07016839880.”
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