From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Several households in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, and its environs are facing prolonged blackouts following a report that 250 transformers have been vandalised in the past four months.
In July, vandals destroyed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) power towers of the Ahoada, Yenagoa 132kV line, throwing the Yenagoa and its environs into darkness.
Another set of vandals, taking advantage of the blackout, ransacked major areas in Yenagoa, stealing several transformers’ critical components, especially armoured cables.
The state government which announced the development, however, assured parts of Yenagoa not affected would be lighted in the next 48 hours.
Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company, Olice Kemenanabo, during a press briefing in Yenagoa, alongside the Commissioner for Power, Kharin Komuko, his Information, Orientation and Strategy counterpart, Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, and the Regional Manager of PHEDC, Lawrence Emeyi, said officials are fixing the remaining challenges.
“As of this morning, we have a challenge on the line between Ahoada and Yenagoa and TCN officials are patrolling the line. Once that is done, the Yenagoa tier will be energised. We have about seven feeders going out of the Yenagoa transmission station and a few of them have some challenges, and therefore, all of them may not come up at the same time. If the reports I have are anything to go by, in the next 48 hours, parts of Yenagoa will be on the grid,” Kemenanabo said.
On her part, Koku-Obiyai appealed to citizens to understand the government as efforts are being made to look into the over 250 vandalised transformers within Yenagoa.