TERRORIST have once again vandalised towers T377, and T378 along the Gombe – Damaturu 330kV transmission line, resulting in a load loss of approximately five Megawatts.
The 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.
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”.
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She said, that in the interim, TCN has arranged to temporarily supply electricity to Damaturu from the Potiskum Transmission Substation. Meanwhile, arrangements are underway to mobilise contractors that will re-erect the vandalised 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 minimise the impact of this unfortunate incident on the power supply to the affected areas”, she said in the statement.
Recall, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has expressed worry over the incessant vandalisation of power assets in the country, noting that the government will confront the vandals.
“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,” he added.
He expressed his commitment to work in collaboration with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other security agencies to stem the tide of vandalisation of power installations.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.