TCN reconstructs vandalised power grids in North East
Chigozie Amadi
The Transmission Company of Nigeria, on Tuesday, announced that the rehabilitation and re-stringing of the four vandalised towers along the Jos–Gombe 330kV transmission line supplying bulk power to substations in the North-East have been completed.
It said the re-stringing of conductors was completed on June 3, 2024, and that contractors had reconnected the jumper on tower 282, making it ready for the transmission of bulk electricity.
When the vandalised towers were discovered on April 22, 2024, TCN mobilised contractors and supervising engineers from the transmission company to the site of the incident to commence repairs.
Initially, TCN promised to complete the repairs and restore supply by May 27, 2024.
“However, the collapse of the fourth tower during the re-stringing process delayed the completion. The four towers have since been completed, and the line is now ready for bulk power transmission,” TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
TCN appreciated the patience and support of the governors and people in the Northeast during the period of the tower reconstruction work.
The PUNCH reported last week that three additional towers were vandalised in the North-East, a development that further worsened the blackout in the region.
The incident occurred along the Biu – Danbua 132kV transmission line, as 16 spans of conductors were stolen, adding that this was discovered by TCN.
Two weeks ago TCN responded to the North-East Governors’ Forum by stating that electricity would be restored to the region on May 27, 2024.
This was after the North-East Governors’ Forum raised concerns that the region had been neglected, as the NEGF lambasted TCN over its poor handling of repairs of vandalised transmission towers in the region.
But on Monday last week, TCN stated that while it was trying to complete the reconstruction of four towers that were earlier vandalised in the Northeast, it discovered that another three had been vandalised.
It also stated that tower number T290, one of the four new towers erected by TCN contractors along the Jos – Gombe 330kV transmission line collapsed during the cable stringing process.
But in its latest statement on Tuesday, the company stated that all four vandalised towers had been reconstructed and restringed to start supplying power to the region.
