Vandals Disrupt Repair Work on Ahoada-Yenagoa Transmission Line, TCN Calls for Increased Vigilance
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Vandals have disrupted ongoing repair work on the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132 kV transmission line, which had already been damaged in a previous attack. The most recent incident, which took place on Tuesday, targeted towers 29 to 31 and resulted in the theft of about one-third of the conductor. This was revealed in a statement by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Friday, issued by Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs.
TCN’s team, led by Mr. Emmanuel Akpa, the General Manager for the Port Harcourt Region, conducted an on-site inspection and confirmed that the theft occurred overnight. In response to the attack, local security has been deployed to the area in Ula Ikata, Ahoada East Local Government Area, to protect the site until repairs are completed. Furthermore, the line will be energized from the Ahoada end as a precautionary measure. Despite challenges posed by the difficult terrain and flooding, work to replace the stolen 250mm conductor is already underway, with about 85% of the repairs completed.
Earlier in November, another series of vandalism attacks affected the transmission towers along the 330 kV Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho lines, causing significant damage to 31 towers. These towers, located in the Okada and Ofosu communities, had critical components removed, as discovered by TCN linesmen during routine patrols. In response, TCN engineers from the Benin Sub-Region started repairs to prevent tower collapse and safeguard power supply.
TCN’s General Manager emphasized the urgency of addressing the growing problem of vandalism, which has been severely impacting the country’s power infrastructure. The company is calling for public support to combat these crimes, which have disrupted the expansion and stability of Nigeria’s national grid. TCN is also increasing efforts to secure its installations and appealing to security forces and local communities to remain vigilant in protecting power infrastructure.
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