Power Crisis Deepens as Vandalism Causes Widespread Outage
Residents of Bayelsa and Rivers States are once again grappling with a power outage after vandals destroyed four high-voltage transmission towers along the Owerri-Ahoada 132kV Double Circuit line.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the incident, stating that towers T171 to T174 were vandalized, leading to their collapse around 6:23 PM on Tuesday, March 11.
The damage was discovered during a routine system check when an attempted power restoration failed.
Massive Disruptions Across Affected States
As a result, electricity supply to the Ahoada, Gbarain, and Yenagoa transmission substations has been disrupted, plunging parts of Rivers State and the entire Bayelsa State into darkness.
A team of engineers, led by TCN’s General Manager for the Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Akpa, has been deployed to assess the damage and initiate repairs. Akpa assured affected residents that efforts are underway to restore power as quickly as possible.
Call for Action Against Vandalism
Condemning the attack, TCN’s spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, urged local communities to join the fight against vandalism, which continues to undermine Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
“We are working tirelessly to fix the damage, but the recurring attacks on our transmission lines make it difficult to maintain a stable grid,” Mbah stated.
This incident comes just months after Bayelsa residents endured a four-month blackout in 2024 due to similar vandalism. The prolonged power outages have severely impacted businesses, forcing many to rely on costly fuel-powered generators.
What’s Next?
As engineers work to restore power, authorities are calling for stricter security measures to prevent further sabotage of the nation’s electricity network.
Stay updated with NIGPOST for real-time news and developments on this situation.
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