Blackout Imminent: 13 Transmission Towers in Nigeria Destroyed in Widespread Vandalism
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that a prolonged blackout is impending for Bayelsa State, with surrounding communities in Rivers State also affected. This severe disruption to the region’s electricity supply is a direct result of the vandalism of 13 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the affected towers are situated across several communities in Rivers and Bayelsa States. Of these, nine have collapsed entirely, while four remain precarious and are at risk of collapsing at any moment.
The statement revealed that the 13 towers were found vandalized by a team led by General Manager Emmanuel Akpa during a site visit. This act of sabotage has led to significant delays in TCN’s efforts to rebuild and restring the damaged towers, resulting in a projected timeframe of several months before the area’s power supply is fully restored.
“We urge the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa States to assist TCN in combating this widespread vandalism, which has been increasingly alarming and overwhelming,” emphasized Sule Abdulaziz, TCN’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, referring to the incident as a national disaster.
Abdulaziz acknowledged TCN’s ongoing efforts to repair other damaged towers in the same line route, which have also been impacted by vandalism. “Despite our continued efforts, the recent vandalism of the 13 towers presents a significant challenge that demands immediate attention,” he said.
In light of this incident, TCN has appealed to the public, security operatives, host communities, traditional rulers, and all stakeholders to collaborate in the fight against power infrastructure vandalism. The company stressed that combating this problem requires collective efforts and decisive action.
With this alarming setback, Bayelsa State is bracing for an extended blackout period, posing significant economic, social, and environmental challenges for its residents and neighboring communities.
