Bayelsa Set For Long Blackout After Vandals Wreck 13 Transmission Towers

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that Bayelsa State will face a prolonged blackout due to the vandalism of 13 transmission towers on the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit line. TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, announced on Wednesday that the blackout would also impact some communities in Rivers State.

This was discovered after a team member led by Emmanuel Akpa, the General Manager of the Port Harcourt Transmission region, visited the site. They found that all 13 towers, numbered T52 to T64, were affected. Of these, nine towers had completely collapsed, and four were on the verge of collapsing.

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

Due to the extensive damage and ongoing repairs of previously vandalised towers, it may take several months for TCN to rebuild and restore power, he noted.

TCN’s Managing Director, Sule Abdulaziz, called the incident a “national disaster” and urged the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa states to help prevent further vandalism.

Abdulaziz also mentioned that TCN had recently dealt with the vandalism and collapse of towers T97 to T99 on the same line route on July 29, 2024.

“Additionally, a new contract was recently awarded for reinforcing towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, where tower members had been vandalised and stolen,” he said. He added that despite these ongoing efforts, the recent vandalism of the 13 towers presents a significant challenge.

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

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