By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has attributed its inability to meet the May 27th timeline set for power restoration to the North-East, to sudden collapse of one of the four newly erected transmission towers.
TCN had promised to restore power on May 27, 2024 (today) to Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Bauchi and jalingo affected by the destructive attack on four transmission towers by vandals.
However, in a statement on Monday by the General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the company announced that tower number T290, one of the four new towers erected by its contractors along the Jos – Gombe 330kV transmission line collapsed during the cable stringing process.
TCN disclosed that the incident occurred at about 7am, in the morning, 27th May, 2024, while the contractor was stringing the cable on the last tower, which was supposed to enable the final jointing of the power cable in time for energizing of the line today.
The company explained that “despite of the security challenges in the area, TCN contractors and some of our engineering staff worked tirelessly to fast-track the project, doing all that was humanly possible to meet the time-line.
“Daily, the contractor, TCN engineers accompanied by security operatives consistently left the site by 10pm in the night and resumed work at 6am every day.
“Constructing towers and stringing power cables at such heights is highly technical, although TCN contractors and staff have successfully completed similar projects in other parts of the country.
“The collapse of the fourth tower is a significant setback, given the extensive efforts to ensure that today’s power restoration timeline was met.
“Our contractor is currently dismantling the collapsed tower members, to enable its reconstruction and final restringing of the cable”, it said.
TCN noted that while it was working on reconstructing and restringing the four vandalised towers, three (3) towers along the Biu – Danbua 132kV transmission line were also vandalized with 16 spans of conductors stolen.
It, however, revealed that a contractor has been mobilised to commence reconstruction of the three towers which include towers T1690, T1691 and T1692.
Additionally, the company said, its lines patrol team discovered that tower T540 along the Makurdi – Jos 330kV double circuit transmission line has also been vandalised.
TCN disclosed that some sections of the tower have been removed, although the tower remains standing, revealing that it has, however, contracted emergency repairs, to prevent its collapse.
While reiterating its commitment to restoring normal bulk power supply through the distribution companies serving the North East and other areas affected by vandalism, TCN stressed the urgent need for everyone to join hands in protecting collective assets by being vigilant and reporting any suspected acts of tower and line vandalism promptly.
