Power supply restored to Gombe-Borno transmission line, says TCN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has fully restored power through the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri 330 kilovolt (kV) transmission line.

In a statement via X on Friday, Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s general manager of public affairs, confirmed that power was restored on the Gombe-Damaturu line at about 7:25pm on October 30 and on the Damaturu-Maiduguri (Molai) segment yesterday around 2:01pm.

On September 22, TCN said tower 372, along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission line, was destroyed by vandals.

The commission said vandals cut off all four tower footing, resulting in the collapse of tower 372 along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri section, affecting power supply to the whole of Damaturu, Yobe state and up to Maiduguri, Borno state.

TCN said the vandalised tower has been rebuilt, and the stringing of the line was completed on October 23.

“Recall that tower 372, along the 330kV transmission line, was vandalised on 22 September 2024. The vandalised tower was rebuilt, and stringing of the line was completed on 23 October 2024, at about 12:48 pm,” Mbah said.

“TCN was, however, unable to immediately restore bulk power supply through the line due to the vandalism of the Ugwuaji-Apir transmission line. Power supply has, however, been fully restored along the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri 330kV transmission line.”

TCN again called on the public to join efforts against the vandalism of power installations to secure the future of Nigeria’s electricity supply.

The company urged the public to report any suspicious activities around transmission facilities to security agencies or TCN offices across the country.

On October 22, TCN reported a power outage across the north-east, north-west, and parts of the north-central regions after both 330kV Ugwaji–Apir double circuit transmission lines tripped.

TCN also said the Shiroro-Kaduna line was vandalised, leading to reduced bulk electricity supply to Kaduna, Kano, and other major cities in the north.

On Wednesday, Mbah said power supply has been successfully restored to seven northern states via its 330kV Ugwuaji-Apir transmission line one.