We’re collaborating with NSA to restore power in North — TCN

• TCN’s focus remains on ensuring an even supply of electricity nationwide and that security arrangements were underway

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated that it is collaborating with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to repair the vandalised Shiroro-Kaduna line, which has resulted in a reduction in bulk electricity to Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa states.

Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, said in a statement that the company is working hard to restore bulk power supply to the affected states as soon as possible.

The statement read, “In her address at the hearing, Engr. (Mrs) Nafisatu Ali stated that the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission line, which supplies power to Northern Nigeria, was vandalised by insurgents, and that in response, TCN has partnered with the National Security Adviser’s office to secure the area, allowing her engineers to work safely on the restoration.”

“Engr. Ali emphasized that deploying engineers without security support is not feasible, given the risks in the region. She therefore dispelled any suggestion that restoration would be indefinite, stressing that TCN’s focus remains on ensuring an even supply of electricity nationwide and that security arrangements were underway.”

According to Mbah, the current outage is as a result of vandalism of the Shiroro-Mando transmission line-a critical infrastructure that supplies electricity to the region. She however added that threat of insecurity in the states has been power restoration.

“However, as a temporary measure, TCN had rerouted bulk power supply through the Ugwuaji-Apir 330kV line, which recently snapped.

“TCN has been collaborating closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to work with our engineers to access the vandalism site to enable them to effect necessary repairs. This is vital to ensure the safety of lives during the repairs.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to overcoming these challenges because we understand the place of electricity in the socio-economic lives of the people and the extreme inconveniences this situation is causing the government and all electricity customers in all the affected areas.

“We pledge not to relent in doing everything possible to rectify the problems and restore power supply to the affected areas,” the statement added.