Electricity Infrastructure Vandalism: TCN to Restore Power to Damaturu, Maiduguri

By Chioma Eche, Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN has announced that effort is ongoing by its Engineers in the interim, to back feed Damaturu through a 33kV transmission line from Potiskum, following the destruction of its tower No T372, along Gombe -Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission line by vandals on Saturday.

In a statement issued and signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, TCN disclosed that the incident occurred at 1: 44am on Saturday 21st September 2024.

Mbah said Maiduguri town which was also affected will be fed from the Maiduguri Emergency Power Plant (MEPP).

“This time, the vandals cut off all four tower footing, resulting in the collapse of tower T372 along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri section, which was discovered by TCN’s linesmen deployed on emergency patrol”

“This development has thrown the whole of Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, up to Maiduguri in Borno State, north-east Nigeria out of power supply.”

Mrs Mbah further explained that work will commence immediately to dismantle and evacuate the collapsed tower for reconstruction and restoration of the transmission line.

She said TCN “frowns at the incessant attack on our collective national assets and enjoins citizens to be vigilant in protecting these assets and also to report suspicious activities or persons around our transmission infrastructure to law enforcement agents or TCN offices in that vicinity.

“TCN is committed to a quick restoration of bulk power to the affected areas and will expedite reconstruction work on the tower to ensure that it is completed as soon as possible,” she stressed.