Power supply will be fully restored to north-east May 27, says TCN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says electricity supply will be fully restored to the north-east by May 27.

The commission announced on Friday in a statement by Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s spokesperson.

On April 23, TCN said four of its towers along the Jos–Gombe 330 kilo volt (kV) transmission line were vandalised — affecting electricity supply to Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Bauchi, and Jalingo.

Giving an update, Mbah said TCN contractors are diligently working to erect four new transmission towers along the Jos-Gombe axis, to enable the restoration of power supply to states in the north-east region of the country.

“The tower collapse affected Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Bauchi and jalingo. Immediately after the incident however, TCN engineers worked first to redistribute available bulk supply on the Jos – Bauchi Gombe 132kV line between Jos and Yola Discos, while work commenced immediately at reconstructing the four vandalised towers,” the commission said.

“Presently, we are rebuilding the four towers simultaneously. Progress is evident, with one tower nearing 80% completion, another at 60%, a third at 30%, and dismantling work finished on the fourth tower.”

Additionally, she said “tower members” are being fabricated and assembled on-site to expedite work, adding that TCN is dedicated to the quick restoration of bulk power on the line route.

“Construction work on the Jos – Gombe transmission line, taking supply up to Damaturu and environs will be completed and energized by the 20th of May, 2024, while the Damaturu – Maiduguri axis will be completed on the 27th of May, 2024,” Mbah said.

“Expectedly, bulk power transmission would be fully restored on the affected 330kV transmission line by the 27th of May, Yola and Jos DisCos would also be able to offtake and distribute optimally from TCN substations.

“For now, only 38MW is wheeled to both Jos and Yola Distribution companies, with each receiving 19MW each. Efforts to take some of the available power to Jalingo was hampered by very high voltage on the line, which could cause a system disturbance.”

According to the spokesperson, TCN is aware of the inconveniences caused by the current insufficient power supply through Yola and Jos DisCos to electricity customers in the affected states.

Mbah said the company pledged to earnestly expedite work on the towers to guarantee that the towers are completed within the specified time frame.