TCN.
Recurrent vandalism
On February 28, 2024, TCN announced that vandals destroyed Tower 70 along its 330kV Gwagwalade-Katampe Transmission line in Abuja, making it the third transmission tower to be vandalised by vandals within five days, as blackout worsened across the country.
Mbah had said in a statement issued in Abuja that “TCN states that Tower 70 along its 330kV Gwagwalade -Katampe Transmission line has been vandalised with the tower standing precariously on the ground.
“The sad incident occurred on February 26, 2024, at about 11.32 pm. At the said time, the Gwagwalada – Katampe Transmission line tripped at Gwagwalada Transmission Substation and trial reclosure by TCN operators failed, necessitating a physical patrol of the line.
“The TCN lines and patrol team discovered that the four tower footings of Tower 70 were vandalised, destroying the tower legs and causing the tower to stand on the ground, supported by conductors. The incident has reduced bulk power supply flexibility and the volume of power into Abuja by 250 megawatts.”
Meanwhile, TCN stated at the time that it mobilised engineers to the site of the incident and carried out emergency repairs of the damaged tower and its associated equipment.
“We reiterate the need for vigilance in the fight against vandalism of power equipment. It is important that we report suspicious movements around all power equipment to security operatives or the nearest TCN offices nationwide,” it stated.
Earlier, TCN reported that power generation on the national grid dropped by five megawatts following the vandalism of two electricity transmission towers along the Gombe – Damaturu 330kV transmission line.
Although the company said its engineers had been deployed to fix the towers, it condemned the act, describing it as a recurrent sabotage perpetuated on the country’s power transmission towers.
Culled from Punch Newspaper
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