The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has assured that it is working assiduously to complete a transmission line by-pass along the Damaturu-Maiduguri 132kV transmission line route to power supply to Maiduguri and environs. The transmission line would be completed in two weeks to enable TCN restore supply to Maiduguri and its environs.
The acting managing director of TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz, gave this assurance recently during an inspection tour of reconstruction works for the new foundation for the towers. He also inspected the temporary by-pass transmission line project, which has reached advanced stage. The MD further emphasized that the by-pass which would provide urgent relief will be completed in two weeks’ time.
According to him, following the damage of tower T159, which pulled down towers T160 and T161 along the same transmission line route recently, work on the transmission line diversion became necessary as the replacement of the permanent towers would take a little longer to complete and there was need to urgently meet the power supply needs of electricity consumers in the affected areas.
The TCN boss further explained that work on the by-pass for temporary diversion of electricity would be completed first, as quickly as possible, while the engineers will need to take more time to properly reconstruct and mount new replacement towers for the permanent tower structure, which are already being fabricated.
“We are here with all our contractors who are already working on both projects. We have bought all the materials they require to do the work and would continue to bring in the rest from Maiduguri town in batches. On the other side, you can see the diversion we are already putting in place, which is important to enable us supply the Maiduguri people with light as quickly as possible,” Abdulaziz noted.
He expressed his profound appreciation to the governor of Borno State Prof. Babagana Zulum, whom he commended for the zeal and obvious commitment to resolving the power challenge in his state. The MD expressed satisfaction with the progress of work at the site, noting that Governor Zulum has continued to give TCN all the necessary support required, which has enabled the company continue with the project despite security challenges.
The TCN MD was accompanied to the site by the Borno State commissioner for housing and energy, Engr. Yuguda Sadeh Vungas; and the MD of Yola Disco, Engr. Baba Mustapha, alongside top management staff of TCN.