Bayelsa State is poised to regain access to electricity after enduring a four-month blackout caused by severe vandalism of power infrastructure. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has assured residents that power restoration will be completed within the next 48 hours.
The crisis began when vandals targeted 19 power transmission towers between Igbogene in Yenagoa and Ahoada in Rivers State, damaging the 132kV double circuit lines. The destruction severed Bayelsa’s connection to the national grid, plunging the state into darkness.
During a briefing in Yenagoa on Monday, Bayelsa’s Commissioner for Information, Orientation, and Strategy, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, shared updates on the government’s efforts to resolve the issue.
According to her, the state had to allocate significant resources to repair the damaged towers despite the responsibility lying with the Federal Government.
She said, “We are here today to update you on the power situation. As we all know, about four months ago, vandals destroyed three towers in Bayelsa State, initially 13 between Ahoada and Mbiama, and later another three. A total of 16 towers were affected in that area, and three in the Bayelsa end. For the past four months, we have been in darkness in Bayelsa.
“The towers are not the property of Bayelsa State Government; they belong to the Federal Government, which is responsible for maintaining them. However, due to the situation we found ourselves in, the state government has committed substantial funds to repair these towers.
“The update we are providing is that the power towers have been repaired, and we will have power this week. We also noticed that out of more than 500 transformers, about 253 have been vandalised, and some armoured cables have been removed. We have the responsibility to protect government property, from which we all benefit. Today, some parts of the state will have electricity once we reconnect, while others will not.
“The government will soon inaugurate a task force to visit shops and any locations where vandals may be hiding. Anyone selling second-hand armoured cables must explain where they obtained them.”
