The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that about thirteen of its transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line have been vandalised.
TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah who disclosed the development in a statement late on Wednesday said, the incident was first reported by the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State on August 12, 2024.
Mrs. Mbah narrated that the Port Harcourt region of TCN, led by General Manager of Transmission, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa, promptly visited the site near TCN’s Ahoada Transmission Substation to assess the situation, and confirmed that thirteen towers, from T52 to T64, were affected by vandalism.
She said, of these, nine towers had collapsed completely, while four were hanging precariously and could collapse at any moment.
The GM said, while describing the incident as a national disaster the Managing Director/CEO of TCN urged the governments of Rivers State and Bayelsa State to assist TCN in addressing the ongoing vandalism of its installations, which has become increasingly alarming and overwhelming.
He noted that TCN had recently responded to the vandalism and subsequent collapse of towers T97 to T99 on the same line route on July 29, 2024, with work still ongoing to rebuild the vandalized towers.
Additionally, he said, a new contract was recently awarded for the reinforcement of towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, where tower members had been vandalized and stolen, noting that despite these ongoing efforts, the recent vandalism of the thirteen towers presents a significant challenge to TCN.
The company said, the thirteen vandalized towers are located in several communities, including Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 in Ahoada West, and Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State, as well as the Igbogene community in Bayelsa State.
“It is important to note that the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit Transmission line is crucial for evacuating power from the Ahoada Transmission Substation to the Yenagoa Substation, which supplies electricity to the entire Bayelsa State.
“Given the extent of the destruction to the towers and the ongoing work on previously vandalized transmission towers, it may take several months for TCN to complete the rebuilding and stringing of the towers to restore power supply to the state.
“TCN once again appeals to security operatives, host communities, traditional rulers, state governments, and all stakeholders to collaborate with TCN in the fight against power installation vandalism. Urgent action is required”, the company said.
