Blackout In Rivers, Bayelsa As Four Towers On Owerri-Ahoada 132kV Line Collapse

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Thursday announced that four towers along the Owerri-Ahoada 132kV Double Circuit line have been vandalised.

The affected towers, T171 to T174, were compromised, which led to their collapse at approximately 6:23 pm on Tuesday, 11th March.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the development had disrupted power supply to the Ahoda, Gbarain, and Yenagoa 132kV transmission substations, affecting some parts of Rivers State and the entire Bayelsa State.

Confirming the incident, the TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, in a statement she issued in Abuja, said investigations have confirmed that the towers’ collapse was a direct result of vandalism.

She said, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) regrets to inform the public that four of its towers along the Owerri-Ahoada 132kV Double Circuit line have been vandalised, resulting in their collapse.

“The towers were discovered after a failed trial reclosure that prompted a subsequent patrol. Investigations confirmed that the towers’ collapse was a direct result of vandalism.

“This incident has disrupted power supply to the Ahoda, Gbarain, and Yenagoa 132kV transmission substations, affecting some parts of Rivers State and the entire Bayelsa State.

“The affected towers, T171 to T174, were compromised, which led to their collapse at approximately 6:23 pm on Tuesday, 11th March.

While condemning the act, Mbah said a team of engineers, led by the General Manager of the Port Harcourt Region, Engr. Emmanuel Apka had visited the site to assess the extent of the damage.

“TCN is making frantic efforts to mobilise personnel and materials for the repair of the vandalised towers so that the bulk power supply can be restored to the affected states.

“We condemn this act of vandalism, which continues to undermine efforts made to put in place a robust transmission grid.

“We are again calling on host communities to join us in the urgent fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure, she said.

Blackout In Rivers, Bayelsa As Four Towers On Owerri-Ahoada 132kV Line Collapse is first published on The Whistler Newspaper