The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported that nine towers along the Papalanto/Abeokuta 132kV transmission line in the Obafemi Owode area of Ogun State have collapsed as a result of vandalism.
The collapse of the towers, numbered from Tower 56 to Tower 65, was discovered after a tripping incident occurred and a team was dispatched to locate the fault. The extensive vandalism inflicted on the towers led to their subsequent collapse.
The General Manager (T) of TCN’s Lagos Region, Engr. Mojeed Akintola, expressed dismay over the incident and emphasized that the actions of vandals have detrimental effects on the company’s efforts to expand the grid infrastructure.
The resources, according to the report, that would have been utilized for further grid improvements in Ogun State will now be allocated to replacing the vandalized towers.
The consequences of the collapsed towers have resulted in a power outage in Abeokuta and its surroundings.
However, TCN is actively working to provide an alternative power supply through another transmission line to ensure that Ibadan Distribution Company (DisCo) can distribute electricity to affected customers.
TCN takes this opportunity to appeal to host communities to collaborate in safeguarding national assets. The company emphasizes the importance of protecting the electricity infrastructure, which is crucial for the well-being and development of the nation.
The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by TCN and other stakeholders in maintaining a reliable and secure power supply across Nigeria.
Efforts to combat vandalism and ensure the uninterrupted flow of electricity remain a priority for TCN.
Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN, reiterated the company’s commitment to addressing the issue and encouraged communities to actively participate in the protection of critical infrastructure.
Further updates will be provided as TCN works towards restoring power supply in the affected areas and implements measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.