Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has revealed that vandals in Benin, capital of Edo state, have destroyed 31 transmission towers.
Gatekeepers News reports that TCN’s director of public affairs, Ndidi Mbah made the revelation through a statement released on Friday.
Mbah said vandals attacked transmission towers in Okada and Ofosu communities along 330kV Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho transmission lines.
The spokesperson said TCN linesmen during a routine patrol, discovered the vandalised towers, which suffered significant damage with critical components removed earlier in November.
She said, “A total of 31 towers were affected in this incident.”
“TCN engineers from the Benin Sub-Region have initiated repairs to prevent the collapse of the affected towers and to avoid disruption of bulk power supply.”
Mbah added said TCN’s Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line, which was under repair following a previous attack, was once again targeted by vandals.
The spokesperson confirmed that the attack, which occurred on November 19, affected towers 29 to 31 and resulted in theft of approximately one-third of the conductor.
On August 14, TCN announced that Bayelsa state would face a prolonged power outage after vandals destroyed 13 transmission towers along Ahoada-Yenagoa’s 132kV double circuit transmission line.
On October 29, the transmission company said that 65 percent of the damaged transmission towers had been repaired.
The company said 17 transmission towers had been successfully erected, with work on the remaining three still in progress.
The statement reads, “A team of TCN engineers, led by Engr. Emmanuel Akpa, General Manager of the Port Harcourt Region, has conducted an inspection of the site.”
“Preliminary findings indicate that the incident occurred at night. In an attempt to prevent further theft while repair arrangements are being made, local security has been engaged at Ula Ikata in Ahoada East LGA to secure the site until repairs are completed.”
“Additionally, the line will be energized from the Ahoada end as a preventive measure.”
The TCN spokesperson noted that efforts are underway to replace the stolen 250mm conductor.
She said the restringing of the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line is approximately 85 percent complete.
Mbah said that the incidents show the urgent need to address the growing problem of vandalism and theft, which continue to affect Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
She urged the public to support efforts to tackle such criminal acts, which have hindered the expansion and stability of the national grid.
Mbah also urged security operatives and local communities to remain vigilant in protecting power infrastructure in their areas as TCN intensifies its efforts to safeguard its installations.
