The Transmission Company of Nigeria has successfully rebuilt and re-erected 13 out of the 16 transmission towers that were destroyed by vandals along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV transmission line.
This update was shared on TCN’s official X handle on Thursday.
The restoration progress was detailed by Emmanuel Akpa, the General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, during a meeting with Bayelsa State’s Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, and members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on September 12.
Akpa expressed deep regret over the significant damage caused by the vandalism, noting its severe impact on the state’s electricity supply and the substantial financial burden it placed on TCN.
“We’re pained that this act has put the good people of Bayelsa into untold hardship and has equally plunged TCN into huge financial debt,” Akpa said.
He emphasized the unprecedented nature of the destruction, calling it the worst he had seen in his 33 years of service.
“In my 33 years of service, I have never seen this kind of colossal damage. It should be a national concern. Although vandalism is recorded across the country, the rate in this area is alarming,” he noted.
Akpa appealed for a stronger partnership between the state government and local communities to safeguard critical infrastructure.
He urged community leaders and state authorities to take more proactive measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.
“The Bayelsa State government must decisively address this issue to forestall future occurrences,” he added.
Benneth Ezemobi, Assistant General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Sub-Region, provided additional insights, revealing that a local vigilante group had been engaged to protect the ongoing repairs.
He reported that two individuals had already been apprehended for attempting to tamper with the newly erected towers. Ezemobi underscored the need for enhanced security to ensure the completion of the repairs and the swift restoration of electricity to Bayelsa State.
In response, Prof. Ayawei affirmed the state’s commitment to protecting the transmission towers and announced plans to bolster security measures.
He highlighted that the state would deploy more security personnel and adopt technology-based surveillance, including the installation of internet-enabled cameras, to monitor high-risk areas.
“Power is too critical, and without it, our job as a government is incomplete,” he stated.
He also addressed the broader impact of the vandalism on local communities, particularly on small businesses like barbers and ice block vendors, who rely heavily on electricity to operate.
In a related development, TCN and the Bayelsa State government have agreed to establish a new work center in Yenagoa to improve bulk power transmission and minimize downtime in the event of future faults.
This initiative aims to strengthen the state’s electricity infrastructure and enhance the reliability of power supply to the region.
