The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Port Harcourt Region, has triumphantly restored power to most parts of Bayelsa State, ending a four-month blackout that plunged the region into darkness.
This remarkable feat was announced by Emmanuel Anyaegbulem, the General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, during a press briefing on the 16th of December, 2024, in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt.
The Port Harcourt Region, which spans Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers states, had been grappling with the fallout from a shocking act of sabotage.
According to Anyaegbulem, the crisis began on the 29th of July, 2024, when criminals vandalized about 20 transmission towers along the critical Ahoada-Yenagoa 132-kilovolt (KV) electricity lines.
“The 132KV line is the only transmission line that supplies electricity to Bayelsa State,” he explained.
“The repairs of the collapsed towers presented a significant challenge for us, considering that the blackout lasted from July 29 until November 30, when we restored the lines.”
The restoration was no small task, with Anyaegbulem revealing that constructing a single transmission tower costs about N13 million.
Despite these hurdles, the TCN team persevered, bringing light back to the state.
In addition to the technical challenges, the company also had to tackle the issue of vandalism.
Anyaegbulem disclosed that police officers assigned to TCN arrested 10 suspects involved in the destruction of the company’s facilities in 2024. Of these, four have already been convicted, while six remain in police custody.
The General Manager reaffirmed TCN’s dedication to supporting Distribution Companies (DisCos) in ensuring uninterrupted power supply to customers.
This bold effort underscores the company’s resilience and commitment to overcoming obstacles in its quest to deliver reliable electricity to the nation.