Blackout worsens in Bayelsa as vandals destroy 13 extra tower traces

The authorities of the Transmission Firm of Nigeria (TCN), Port Harcourt area, has cried out to the Governors of Bayelsa and Rivers states, Senator Douye Diri and Sir Siminalayi Fubara respectively, over the rising instances of transmission traces vandalism and theft within the states.

Bayelsa State was thrown into darkness about three weeks in the past because of in depth injury to the Owerri-Ahoada-Yenagoa 132KV double circuit transmission traces.

In response to a press release signed by the Common Supervisor, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the current destruction of the 13 transmission towers alongside the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line is a nationwide catastrophe.

Mbah confirmed that the 13 vandalized towers had been situated in a number of communities, together with Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 in Ahoada West, and Mbiama in Ahoada West Native Authorities Areas of Rivers State, in addition to the Igbogene group in Bayelsa State.

In response to him, the incident was first reported by the Youth President of the Ukpeli Group in Rivers State on August 12, 2024 and the Port Harcourt area of the TCN, led by the Common Supervisor of Transmission, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa, promptly visited the location close to the TCN’s Ahoada Transmission Substation to evaluate the scenario.

The crew confirmed that 13 towers, from T52 to T64, had been affected by vandalism. Of those, 9 towers have collapsed fully, whereas 4 are hanging precariously and will collapse at any second.

Describing the incident as a nationwide catastrophe, the Managing Director/CEO of the TCN, Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, urged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to help the TCN in addressing the continuing vandalism of its installations, which has change into more and more alarming and overwhelming.

He famous that the TCN had not too long ago responded to the vandalism and subsequent collapse of towers T97 to T99 on the identical line route on July 29, 2024, with work nonetheless ongoing to rebuild the vandalized towers.

“Moreover, a brand new contract was not too long ago awarded for the reinforcement of towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, the place tower members had been vandalized and stolen. Regardless of these ongoing efforts, the current vandalism of the 13 towers presents a big problem to the TCN.

“It is very important word that the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit Transmission line is essential for evacuating energy from the Ahoada Transmission Substation to the Yenagoa Substation, which provides electrical energy to your entire Bayelsa State.

“Given the extent of the destruction to the towers and the continuing work on beforehand vandalized transmission towers, it might take a number of months for TCN to finish the rebuilding and stringing of the towers to revive energy provide to the state.

“TCN as soon as once more appeals to safety operatives, host communities, conventional rulers, state governments, and all stakeholders to collaborate with TCN within the battle in opposition to energy set up vandalism.”