From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Residents of Kaduna and North West region have been thrown into sudden darkness following the vandalism by bandits of two towers along 330kV Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines.
According to the General Manager, Public Affairs of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ndidi Mbah, the 330KV transmission line one tripped first, followed shortly by the second.
As efforts were still ongoing to reclose the first line, TCN engineer discovered another two damaged towers——-Tower T133 and Tower T 136, with their cables badly damaged at several points.
“Arrangements are in top gear to deploy the newly-procured “emergency restoration system” to the site, pending the reconstruction of the damaged towers. TCN has also conducted an aerial survey in collaboration with security operatives, given the area’s vulnerability to banditry, which poses a significant threat to both TCN installations and personnel.
“In the interim, our engineers have implemented a temporary measure to supply bulk power to the Kaduna and Kano regions via the 330kV Kaduna – Jos transmission line.
“The vandalised Shiroro – Kaduna 330kV lines 1&2 are vital lines through which bulk power is transmitted to parts of the North West region, with each line capable of carrying 600MW. The vandalism of the towers and transmission lines presents a significant challenge to bulk power transmission in that axis. We are, however, committed to re-erecting the towers and restringing the transmission lines to restore bulk power transmission through both 330kV power transmission lines” Mbah said.
Recall that due to constant destruction of TCN towers by vandals, the Federal Government is pushing for death sentence for the culprits.
Addressing chief executives of agencies and departments in the power sector, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adekola Adelabu said that the vandals not only frustrate the efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring improved supply of electricity, they are sabotaging the economy, killing the people and dragging the rest of Nigerians backward.
“Capital punishment is not too much because they are also gradually killing the nation. They are killing the economy. They are killing the people” he submitted.