By Godswill Odiong
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reports the collapse of Tower T388 along the Jos-Bauchi, 132kV transmission line, following suspected vandalism on February 1, 2024. The incident resulted in a power outage in Yobe and Borno States, reminiscent of a similar act in December 2023. TCN is mobilizing emergency efforts to reconstruct the affected line and tower as power infrastructure vandalism continues to impede grid expansion plans.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a statement by Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs, revealed that Tower T388, situated along the Jos-Bauchi, 132kV Single Circuit transmission line, collapsed due to vandalism, leading to a power outage in Yobe and Borno States. The incident, suspected to have occurred on February 1, 2024, at approximately 10:20 PM, prompted TCN to investigate with the assistance of the police anti-bomb squad and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Upon inspection, remnants of detonated explosives were discovered near the tower legs, indicating foul play by vandals. This occurrence echoes a similar event on December 21, 2023, where towers T372 and T373 along the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV Single Circuit transmission line collapsed due to vandalism, resulting in the loss of a security operative’s life and disrupting power supply in Yobe and Borno States. The affected line and towers from the December incident were fully reconstructed and energized on February 2, 2024.
“The team uncovered remnants of detonated explosives by vandals by the tower legs, which had exploded and caused the tower to collapse. This incident mirrors a recent and similar act on December 21, 2023, which brought down towers T372 and T373 along the Gombe-Damaturu 330kV Single Circuit transmission line, killing a security operative and affecting power supply in the same Yobe and Borno States. The line and towers from the December incident were fully reconstructed and energized on 2nd February 2024”. He said.
TCN is responding to the latest incident by urgently engaging one of its contractors to commence the reconstruction and restringing of the damaged line and tower. The company emphasizes its commitment to rehabilitating and expanding the nation’s bulk power transmission network. However, the persistent challenge of vandalism and theft of power equipment hinders progress, forcing the diversion of funds earmarked for grid expansion to address emergency repairs, thus impeding the transmission system expansion plan.
As TCN strives to address the aftermath of the tower collapse, the incident underscores the critical issue of vandalism plaguing Nigeria’s power infrastructure. The disruption in power supply to Yobe and Borno States further highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard power facilities. With the ongoing threat of vandalism hindering the nation’s grid expansion plans, a collective effort from authorities and communities is crucial to ensuring a stable and reliable power transmission network for all citizens.
