BLACKOUT HITS PARTS OF KADUNA, KANO AS VANDALS DESTROY CRITICAL TRANSMISSION LINES
A deliberate act of vandalism has led to a blackout in parts of Kaduna and Kano, after two crucial towers along the 330kV Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines 1 and 2 were destroyed. The affected towers, T133 and T136, suffered extensive damage, resulting in the disruption of electricity supply to parts of the North-West region, including Kaduna and Kano.
According to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the incident was first detected when one of the transmission lines tripped, shortly followed by the second. This prompted TCN to mobilize local vigilante groups for increased patrols around the affected area.
Further investigations by TCN's Shiroro Regional Office revealed that the cables were severely compromised at multiple points. "This is not a case of routine damage but a deliberate act of vandalism," stated TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah.
TCN is working closely with security operatives to secure the area, identified as vulnerable to banditry, posing risks to infrastructure and personnel. In response to the emergency, TCN has deployed a newly procured emergency restoration system to the site to stabilize the situation.
Plans are underway for the reconstruction of the damaged towers to fully restore the affected lines. In the interim, TCN engineers have implemented a temporary solution to ensure continued electricity supply, utilizing the 330kV Kaduna-Jos transmission line to deliver bulk power to the Kaduna and Kano regions.
An aerial survey was conducted to assess the extent of the damage and enhance security measures around the affected transmission lines. This survey was carried out in collaboration with security operatives to identify any further vulnerabilities in the area.
The Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines are critical to Nigeria's power supply, with each line capable of carrying 600MW of electricity to the North-West. The loss of these lines has significantly impacted the power distribution network.
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