The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported significant delays in restoring electricity supply to the North-East region due to the vandalisation of three electricity towers in Maiduguri, Borno State.
This has compounded the challenges faced by TCN, which was already working to repair four towers previously damaged by vandals.
In a statement from TCN’s Public Affairs Manager, Ndidi Mbah, the company revealed that the collapse of one of its towers during the “cabling process” has further delayed efforts to restore power.
“Tower number T290, one of the four new towers erected by TCN contractors along the Jos-Gombe 330kV transmission line, collapsed during the cable stringing process,” the statement read.
TCN has mobilized contractors to the site to begin reconstruction of the collapsed towers.
However, additional setbacks were discovered when three more towers along the Biu-Dambua 132kV transmission line were found vandalised, with 16 spans of conductors stolen.
These towers, identified as T1690, T1691, and T1692, have all collapsed, prompting TCN to deploy contractors for their reconstruction.
Further compounding the issue, TCN’s patrol team discovered another act of vandalism this morning.
Tower T540 along the Makurdi-Jos 330kV double circuit transmission line had been damaged, with sections of the tower removed, although it remains standing. Emergency repairs have been contracted to prevent its collapse.
Earlier in April, TCN had disclosed similar incidents where vandals damaged four towers on the Jos-Gombe 330kV transmission line, causing repeated disruptions despite efforts to restore the line.