Federal Government Restores Electricity to Bayelsa After Four-Month Blackout
The Federal Government, through the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in its Port Harcourt Region, has restored electricity to most parts of Bayelsa State following a four-month blackout caused by vandalism.
The Port Harcourt Region, which oversees Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, and Rivers states, announced the development during a news conference on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Emmanuel Anyaegbulem, the General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, revealed that the blackout occurred after criminals vandalized approximately 20 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132 Kilovolt (KV) electricity line on July 29.
“The 132KV line is the only transmission line that supplies electricity to Bayelsa State,” Anyaegbulem explained. “The repairs of the collapsed towers presented a significant challenge for us, considering that the blackout lasted from July 29 until November 30, when we restored the lines.”
Anyaegbulem further disclosed that constructing a single transmission tower cost the company around N13 million, underscoring the financial burden caused by vandalism.
He also confirmed that efforts to curb such criminal activities were yielding results, as police officers attached to TCN arrested 10 suspects in 2024 for vandalizing transmission infrastructure in the region. Out of the 10 suspects, four have already been convicted in court, while six remain in police custody awaiting trial.
Reiterating the company’s commitment to ensuring stable electricity, Anyaegbulem emphasized that TCN remains focused on providing power to Distribution Companies (DisCos), who in turn are responsible for delivering uninterrupted electricity supply to customers.
The prolonged blackout had severely impacted Bayelsa residents and businesses, with many relying on alternative, costly power sources. The restoration comes as a relief to residents and stakeholders who had called for urgent intervention to address the power crisis.
The TCN urged communities to assist in protecting critical infrastructure, stressing the need for vigilance to prevent future vandalism that disrupts power supply.
