Vandalism of 13 Transmission Towers Triggers Extended Blackout in Bayelsa

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that Bayelsa State will face an extended blackout due to the recent vandalism of 13 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line. This incident will also impact some communities in Rivers State.

A team led by Emmanuel Akpa, the General Manager of the Port Harcourt Transmission region, discovered that all 13 towers, from T52 to T64, were vandalized. Nine towers have completely collapsed, while four others are precariously close to falling, according to a statement by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah.

The incident was first reported by the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State on August 12, 2024. The Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit Transmission line is crucial for delivering power from the Ahoada Transmission Substation to the Yenagoa Substation, which serves the entire Bayelsa State.

Given the severity of the damage and ongoing repairs to previously vandalized towers, TCN estimates that it may take several months to rebuild and restore power supply to the state.

TCN’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Sule Abdulaziz, described the situation as a “national disaster” and called on the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to help curb the rising cases of vandalism. He noted that TCN is already working on restoring other recently vandalized towers, but the destruction of these 13 towers presents a significant setback.

The affected towers are located in various communities, including Okobe in Ahoada East, Emezhi 1 in Ahoada West, Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Areas of Rivers State, and the Igbogene community in Bayelsa State.

TCN urged the public, including security agencies, host communities, traditional rulers, state governments, and all stakeholders, to support efforts to combat the vandalism of power infrastructure.