The Transmission Company of Nigeria officials have enlisted the support of the Nigerian Army in the surveillance of the 330KV Shiroro-Kaduna Lines 1& 2 regarding the vandalized towers and also the support of the Nigerian Air force to locate the exact trouble spot before TCN engineers would move in for repairs to restore power supply in the North West Region; this is because of the dangerous terrain preventing engineers from easily moving in.
By our reporters in Kaduna, Zaria and Kano Relief would soon come the way of residents in the North West region as all hands are on deck to have the vandalized Transmission Lines along the Shiroro-Kaduna Lines repaired and ultimately restore power to the region.
This is based on reports reaching our desk from the field operations which are very encouraging; TCN officials are seen running helter skelter with the Managing director Abdul-Aziz Sule directing affairs.
The Transmission Line had been thoughtlessly vandalized by unscrupulous persons and thus subjecting the region into unnecessary discomfort. But, the TCN management have been equal to the task braving the odds to turn things around.
In a phone call to the Managing Director, Abdul Aziz Sule, he gave full assurance to the residents of the North West to be rest assured of his determination to fix the damaged lines. He explained through his Public Affairs Manager of the assistance received from men of the Nigerian Armed Forces to trace the fault lines.
“I can assure you that we are working in close collaboration with the Security agencies to repair the damage and restore power supply”, disclosed Mrs. Ndidi Mba.
The General manager further revealed that the assistance from the security agencies was necessary because of the dangerous nature of the terrain, making it almost impossible for engineers to easily move to site.
“You know these are human beings, so, while rushing to repair the transmission line, we have to be mindful of the threats”, she explained as well. In a related development, a power sector expert lamented the huge financial burden thrown on TCN as a result of sudden and unexpected destruction of Transmission Lines.
“These structures are extremely expensive and not easy to procure”, the expert explained. He said that the trouble in finding replacement spare parts and having them transported to the identified spot exacts a heavy toll on the federal government. The expert who does not want his name in print because of the sensitivity of the report called on Nigerians to be very watchful of government installations where ever they are.
“I wish we can all be sensitive; this is no longer the job for TCN, we have to join hands to help safeguard government properties especially transmission lines”, he declared. The Power Sector expert berated critiques calling for the head of the TCN management stressing that Grid collapse has nothing to do with management.
“How can you ssy because there is grid collapse therefore the Management should be sacked”, he queried. Luckily, the TCN officials are not distracted from their work schedule; they are focused and committed to the delivery of their mandate. Of recent, it was observed that some unscrupulous persons masquerading as civil society organsitions have been calling for the head of the TCN management.
“This is utterly wrong and baseless”, declared the power sector expert who went on to admonish self-seeking politicians to desist from trivializing very serious issues, adding that no one in TCN would deliberately wish for grid collapse to happen.
