Bayelsa State is set to endure a prolonged blackout following the recent vandalism of 13 transmission towers along the critical Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has revealed. The power outage will also affect several communities in neighbouring Rivers State.
During an inspection of the site, led by Emmanuel Akpa, General Manager of the Port Harcourt Transmission region, it was discovered that all 13 towers, spanning from T52 to T64, had been severely compromised. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, nine towers have completely collapsed, while four others are precariously hanging, threatening further collapse.
The incident was first reported on August 12, 2024, by the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State. The Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit Transmission line, which is integral for transporting power from the Ahoada Transmission Substation to the Yenagoa Substation, supplies electricity to the entire Bayelsa State.
The statement underscored the gravity of the situation, noting that the extensive damage to the transmission towers, combined with ongoing repairs to previously vandalised infrastructure, means it could take several months before power is fully restored to Bayelsa.
Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director and CEO of TCN, described the vandalism as “a national disaster” and called on the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to assist in curbing what he termed as an “increasingly alarming and overwhelming” wave of attacks on power installations. Abdulaziz pointed out that TCN is already in the process of rebuilding towers T97 to T99, which were vandalised on the same line route on July 29, 2024, with work still ongoing.
In addition to this, a new contract has been awarded for the reinforcement of towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, where tower components had been stolen. Despite these efforts, the recent vandalism of 13 additional towers presents a significant setback.
The vandalised towers are located across several communities, including Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 and Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State, and the Igbogene community in Bayelsa State.
TCN has called upon the public, including security operatives, host communities, traditional rulers, state governments, and all stakeholders to collaborate in the fight against the persistent vandalism of power facilities.
