…’Vandals attacked Abuja transmission line’ – TCN
The national grid system, operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), collapsed in the early hours of yesterday, throwing the entire country into blackout.
This comes barely 3 months after the grid collapsed twice within a space of more than 12 hours leaving the nation in total darkness.
But, the TCN, via a press statement issued yesterday, said its Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132KV Transmission Line-1, in the Abuja axis, was attacked by suspected vandals.
The statement released by Ndidi Mbah, the TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, stated that investigations revealed a vandalised portion of the line route between Tower 23 and Tower 25.
The vandalisation of the line, the statement said, was suspected to have taken place at about 1 a.m. on Sunday, “when bulk power supply on the line was cut off, necessitating an early morning investigation by TCN linesmen”.
Mbah added that the vandals had also carted away conductors, causing a power outage at the Kukwaba Transmission Sub-station.
He revealed, however, that the TCN has restored bulk power supply to Kukwaba Sub-station as a temporary solution through Apo Sub-station, even as arrangements were underway to repair the affected line.
“Presently, TCN has restored bulk power supply to Kukwaba Substation at 07:08 pm as a temporary solution through Apo Sub-station. Arrangements are, however, ongoing to effect repairs on the affected line”, Mbah said.
