Terrorists have once again vandalised towers T377, and T378 along Gombe – Damaturu 330kV transmission line, resulting in a load loss of approximately 5Megawatts.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah who disclosed the development in a statement on Sunday, February 25, 2024, said, the two transmission towers were destroyed by insurgents.
Mrs. Mbah narrated that “at approximately 9:35 pm yesterday, the Gombe – Damaturu 330kV transmission line experienced a trip. Following initial checks, TCN engineers from the Bauchi regional office attempted the restoration of the line but it tripped again, prompting the dispatch of TCN’s linesmen and security operatives to trace the fault. The team, then discovered the two collapsed towers, T377 and T378”.
She said, in the interim, TCN has arranged to temporarily supply electricity to Damaturu from the Potiskum Transmission Substation. Meanwhile, arrangements are underway to mobilize contractors that will re-erect the vandalized transmission towers and restart the 330kV line affected by the incident.
She said, “TCN condemns this act of sabotage and is again calling on relevant authorities to intensify efforts in the protection of power infrastructures.
“We are committed to working diligently to expedite the restoration process and minimize the impact of this unfortunate incident on power supply to the affected areas”, she said in the statement.
Recall that the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu recently disclosed his commitment to work in collaboration with the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, and other security agencies to stem the tide of vandalisation of power installations.
Chief Adelabu said, the economic saboteurs must not be allowed to progress in their destructive venture, as more investments are expected in the sector.
The Minister said, the deliberate destruction of power installations across the country is an act of sabotage, consequently, should not be allowed to continue.
Narrating his experience since he assumed office, Adelabu said, “Something is happening that never happens anywhere in the world. Which is the deliberate destruction of our collective assets. Since I resumed, I have witnessed nothing less than eight deliberate destructions of our transmission power assets.
“People will decide to bring down transmission towers, bring down transmission lines. If you go back to fix it, before you leave, they will bring it down. Just yesterday it happened in Nasarawa and Yobe States. About five days ago it happened in Bauchi. Before the end of the year, it happened in Yobe.
“These are assets that we spent the country’s money on and our brothers deliberately sabotage it. So, you can see that some people are hiding somewhere who don’t want this sector to work. I am saying it confidently, but they are joking. We are not intimidated; we are not scared. We will confront them.
