YENAGOA (Sundiata Post) – The current power outage in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, and its environs has gone from bad to worse as suspected vandals inflicted further damage to 13 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV Double Circuit transmission line supplying power to the state.

Yenagoa and its environs depending on the national grid had been cut off from power supply for three weeks due to the activities of vandals which destroyed transmission towers at the Igbogene axis of the state.

The state government through the Commissioner for Power,  Kharin Akari Komuko and the managing director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company, Olice Kemenanabo had assured residents of Yenagoa that all hands were on deck to restore power soonest.

However, the news from the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN), on the vandalised 13 towers has thrown a spanner into the efforts of the state government.

According to the TCN, 13 towers from T52 to T64 were affected with nine towers destroyed while four are on the verge of collapse at any moment.

TCN disclosed that the Youth President of the Ukpeli Community in Rivers State reported the case prompting a visit to the affected area by the General Manager of TCN, Port Harcourt Engr. Emmanuel to assess the situation and confirmed the collapse of the towers.

TCN’s G M, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah in a statement, said the MD/CEO of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, has described the incident as a national disaster, and urged the governments of Rivers State and Bayelsa State to assist TCN in addressing the ongoing vandalism of its installations, which has become increasingly alarming and overwhelming.

He noted that TCN had recently responded to the vandalism and subsequent collapse of towers T97 to T99 on the same line route on July 29, 2024, with work still ongoing to rebuild the vandalized towers.

Mbah added that a new contract was recently awarded for the reinforcement of towers 19-31 on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, where tower members had been vandalized and stolen, saying despite these ongoing efforts, the recent vandalism of the thirteen towers presents a significant challenge to TCN.

TCN declared that with the latest development, it would take several months for TCN to complete the rebuilding and stringing of the towers to restore power supply to the state.

Meanwhile, Kharin has sued for calm over the prolonged darkness, noting that the state government was  on top of the situation.

Komuko who stated this after an on-the-spot assessment conducted at the affected vandalised transmission towers, along the Igbogene axis of the state and the Ahoada frowned at the high level of vandalism that led to the total collapse of the affected towers. 

He noted that work has commenced in earnest at the Igbogene location to fix the power situation in the state, adding that the state government is not relenting in its obligation to provide a stable power supply to Bayelsans.

Bayelsa State deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has issued a stern warning to vandals to steer clear of the state as anyone caught or any syndicate group linked to any form of sabotage of electricity infrastructure in the State, would be prosecuted.