The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported the vandalism of two electricity towers along its 330kV Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines 1 and 2, causing significant damage and resulting in power outages in parts of Kano and Kaduna states. The incident, which occurred on Friday, was confirmed by TCN’s Shiroro Regional Office.
In a statement issued by Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs, TCN revealed that the damaged towers, T133 and T136, had their cables severely compromised. Although the company did not explicitly blame any group, there are suspicions that bandits may be involved, particularly in light of recent violent activities in the Shiroro area, including the killing of 13 farmers.
The 330kV line 1 tripped first, followed by the second line while efforts to restore the first were still ongoing. TCN immediately mobilized local vigilantes to patrol the affected lines. An aerial survey, conducted in collaboration with security operatives, has been carried out to assess the extent of the damage and the security threat to TCN infrastructure and personnel.
To mitigate the impact of the damage, TCN engineers have implemented a temporary solution by routing bulk power through the 330kV Kaduna–Jos transmission line to supply electricity to Kaduna and Kano. Additionally, the company is preparing to deploy its newly acquired “emergency restoration system” to the site, pending the full reconstruction of the damaged towers.
The Shiroro–Kaduna transmission lines are critical for delivering bulk power to the North West region, with each line capable of carrying 600MW. The vandalism presents a significant challenge to power distribution in the affected areas. TCN remains committed to restoring the lines and resuming normal transmission as soon as possible.
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