The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed the destruction of its tower T372, along Gombe -Damaturu-Maiduguri 330 Kilovolt (kV) transmission by vandals on Saturday at about 1:44am.
Following the development, the whole of Damaturu in Yobe, and Maiduguri in Borno have been thrown into darkness as they are out of power supply.
TCN’S General Manager Public Affairs, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, said this in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
She said that the vandals cut off all four tower footings, resulting in the collapse of the tower, and were discovered by TCN’s linesmen deployed on emergency patrol.
Mbah said Maiduguri town will be fed from the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).
“Following the destructive attack, effort is ongoing by TCN’s engineers in the interim, to back-feed Damaturu through a 33kV transmission line from Potiskum
“Meanwhile, work will commence immediately to dismantle and evacuate the collapsed tower for reconstruction and restoration of the transmission line.
“TCN frowns at the incessant attack on our collective national assets and enjoins citizens to be vigilant in protecting these assets.
“They should report suspicious activities or persons around our transmission infrastructure to law enforcement agents or TCN offices in that vicinity,” she said.
Mbah said that the TCN was committed to a quick restoration of bulk power to the affected areas.
She said that the company would expedite reconstruction work on the tower to ensure that it is completed as soon as possible.
