August Day 2 protest: Vandals destroy 2 transmission towers in Yenagoa – TCN

According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), vandals demolished two transmission towers, T98 and T99, on the Ahoada/Yenagoa 132kV line in the Bayelsa hamlet of Igbooghene.

This was revealed in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by TCN’s general manager of public affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah.

According to Mbah, the event resulted in the collapse of both towers, shutting off Bayelsa’s power supply, which included the Gbarain Power Station and TCN’s Yenagoa Sub-station.

According to TCN, Yenagoa Metropolis and the whole Bayelsa region are still without electricity.

The company said engineers led by Mr Emmanuel Akpa, General Manager Transmission, Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel accompanied by operatives of the Department of State Services have inspected the site of the destroyed towers.

” Plans are already ongoing to mobilise a contractor on an emergency basis to reconstruct the collapsed towers.

“This follows an incident on June 16, where an individual was caught destroying tower T238 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV double circuit transmission lines.

” Another act of vandalism occurred on June 10, at the Ahoada Transmission Substation, ”the company said.

The company urged the public to help in the ongoing fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure nationwide.

TCN said it will continue to collaborate with security operatives and host communities including the DSS and Civil Defence Corps to combat the menace.

” Meanwhile, we are interfacing with stakeholders including security operatives in Yenagoa to put in place other initiatives geared towards helping TCN curtail the menace within the State.

” As we continue to work towards a robust grid, it is pertinent to note that a nation’s power sector cannot grow efficiently if funds intended for infrastructural expansion are repeatedly used to replace vandalised equipment,” TCN said. NAN)