Again, vandal activities throw Rivers, Bayelsa communities into darkness – TCN
Omeiza Bilal
Thirteen transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV double circuit transmission line have been vandalized. The incident was first reported by the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State on August 12, 2024.
General Manager of Transmission, Port Harcourt region of TCN, Engr. Emmanuel Akpa, who visited the site near TCN’s Ahoada Transmission Substation to assess the situation said that thirteen towers, from T52 to T64, were affected. Of these, nine towers collapsed completely, while four are on the verge of collapsing.
Describing the incident as a national disaster the Managing Director/CEO of TCN Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz urged the governments of Rivers State and Bayelsa State to assist the company halt the ongoing vandalism of its installations.
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.
According to the General Manager, Public Affairs of TCN, Ndidi Mba, 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. Despite these ongoing efforts, the recent vandalism of the thirteen towers presents a significant challenge to the company.
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 stated.
