TCN repairs vandalised towers, restores power to Bayelsa

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has successfully repaired and re-erected 13 of the 16 transmission towers vandalized along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV transmission line, the company announced on Thursday via its X handle.

General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Akpa, shared this update during a meeting with Bayelsa State Secretary, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, and members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on September 12.

READ ALSO: Bayelsa faces prolonged blackout after vandals destroy 13 transmission towers

Akpa expressed deep regret over the vandalism’s impact on Bayelsa State’s electricity supply and TCN’s financial losses, stating, “We’re pained that this act has put the good people of Bayelsa into untold hardship and has equally plunged TCN into huge financial debt.”

He described the damage as unprecedented in his 33-year career, calling for national concern and increased collaboration between the state government and community leaders to protect infrastructure.

Assistant General Manager Benneth Ezemobi reported that a local vigilante group is now securing the ongoing repairs, and two vandals have been apprehended.

In response, Prof. Ayawei reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safeguarding the transmission towers, announcing plans to deploy heavy security and technology-based surveillance to monitor high-risk areas.

READ ALSO: Vandalism of 117 power towers costs N12.8b, threatens $7b loan

Additionally, TCN and the Bayelsa State government have agreed to establish a new work centre in Yenagoa to enhance bulk power transmission and reduce downtime in future faults.

The Guardian reports that on August 15, 2024, the company’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, announced the vandalism of the towers, noting that Bayelsa State is set to experience a long period of blackout due to the criminal act. He added that the blackout will also affect some communities in Rivers State.

A The Guardian estimate in March had also shown that over 117 132kv/330kv electricity towers have been vandalised nationwide between January 2022 and February 2024, leaving the country with a multiplier economic loss, and a cumulative costs of N12.8 billion to repair 117 towers.