As Nigerians await the complete restoration of energy to areas affected by the latest vandalism of the 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna traces, the Transmission Firm of Nigeria has reported a recent assault on its 330kV Lokoja –Gwagwalada transmission line one.
This was disclosed in an announcement signed and launched by the TCN Common Supervisor of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Sunday.
In line with her, the incident occurred within the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024, with the vandals damaging transmission towers T306, T307, and T308.
The corporate expressed concern over the growing pattern of vandalism focusing on transmission traces and towers, which is severely impacting the nation’s energy infrastructure.
The assertion learn: “The Transmission Firm of Nigeria hereby experiences that vandals have as soon as once more attacked its 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one within the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024.
“Early on Saturday, TCN engineers tried to re-energise the 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one, however the line tripped.
“After efforts to reclose the road failed, a patrol group of TCN linesmen was dispatched to hint the road for faults. Upon inspection, they found that transmission towers T306, T307 and T308 alongside line one had been vandalised, disrupting bulk energy transmission alongside the route.”
The corporate added that two spans of aluminium conductors from the road had been stolen, with efforts underway to interchange them.
“Additional examination revealed that vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor from line one. The Lokoja–Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, and whereas TCN continues to be supplying bulk energy by means of line two, efforts are underway to supply substitute aluminium conductors for the 2 spans stolen from line one.
“The rising pattern of vandalism focusing on transmission traces and towers has change into a severe problem, severely impacting the nation’s energy infrastructure and hindering the growth and stability of the nationwide grid. This latest incident provides to an alarming sample of assaults on the transmission community nationwide.
“Within the Gwagwalada space alone, latest acts of vandalism embrace the assault on the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo transmission line on December 10, 2023, the Gwagwalada–Katampe line on February 26, 2024, and a number of other others in that axis. Such acts of vandalism proceed to disrupt the soundness and progress of Nigeria’s nationwide grid,” the assertion learn.
The corporate additional appealed to members of host communities to work with TCN and safety operatives to fight this menace, saying, “We as soon as once more attraction to members of the general public, particularly residents of communities internet hosting transmission traces and towers, to collaborate with TCN and safety operatives in combating this menace.
“Vandalism of energy installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system.”