The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has promised to complete the reconstruction of its collapsed transmission towers along the Mbiama-Ahoada axis of Rivers State and restore power supply to Bayelsa in six weeks from now.
Residents of Yenagoa, Bayelsa state capital, and its environs have been without electricity since the last week of July following the vandalisation of about 18 towers between Ahoada- Mbiama and Igbogene.
The Director General of the transmission service provider (TSP), a subsidiary of the TCN, Engineer Olugbenga Ajiboye dropped the hint of possible restoration of power when he led a high-powered technical team on a courtesy visit to the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo in Government House, Yenagoa.
Engineer Ajiboye, who on behalf of the TCN, apologized to the people and government of Bayelsa for the prolonged power outage and its attendant economic cost, however, pleaded for the assistance of the state government to restore power in Bayelsa.
Ajibolye lamented that the blackout had been occasioned by the damage to the TCN power transmission line connecting Bayelsa, noting that about 18 transmission towers were vandalized.
“We are here to plead with the people of Bayelsa State for the power outage. We are here to also plead for the state’s assistance to restore power to Bayelsa.
“We came to look at what is on the ground, and from what we have seen, it would take at least six weeks to reconstruct the collapsed towers and restore power to the state.”
Engineer Ajiboye decried the incessant vandalisation of TCN transmission facilities, noting that 120 such facilities have been vandalised nationwide, and appealed to the state government to provide security for the safeguard of its facilities.
Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, emphasized that the problem of public power supply had become a major issue in the state in recent times.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo expressed concern that although only about 30 percent of Bayelsa is currently covered by the National Grid, the state had never enjoyed a stable power supply even before the present damage of TCN assets caused by vandals.
He urged the federal agency to expedite its reconstruction work, noting that while TCN was losing revenue from the protected absence of power supply to Bayelsa, the State Government on the other hand was losing what he called political capital and goodwill.
“The issue of power supply has become a major issue in Bayelsa State in recent times because the people are calling on the state government.
“Bayelsa has never had a good power supply despite the fact that only about 30 percent of the state is connected to the National Grid. We want you to extend the transmission lines to other parts of the state.
“We want the TCN to change its relationship with the Bayelsa State Government. For us, we are ready to have a higher collaboration with your people on the ground here to discuss and resolve issues at all times.
“There must be a strong collaboration between us and the Rivers State Government to ensure these facilities are protected and secured”, he said.
The head of the TCN delegation was accompanied on the courtesy visit by the General Manager of Transmission Services, Corporate Headquarters, Abuja, Engr Sherifai Ali, and the General Manager of Transmission, Port Harcourt Region, Engr Emmanuel Akpa, among other senior officials.
