By CONSTANCE ATHEKAME

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says its contractors are working tirelessly to erect four new transmission towers along the Jos-Gombe axis.

The company said this is to enable it restore power supply to states in the North Eastern part of the country, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCNS General Manager, Public Affairs stated this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Mbah said that the erection of the towers followed an earlier destructive attack on four transmission towers by vandals.

She said that the towers collapsed and affected Gombe, Damaturu, Maiduguri, Yola, Bauchi and Jalingo.

Immediately after the incident, TCNs engineers worked first to redistribute available bulk supply on the Jos “ Bauchi “ Gombe 132 Kilo Volt (kV) line between Jos and Yola Discos.

While work commenced immediately at reconstructing the four vandalised towers.

Presently, we are rebuilding the four towers simultaneously. Progress is evident, with one tower nearing 80 per cent completion and another at 60 per cent, she said.

According to her, the third is at 30 per cent and dismantling work finished on the fourth tower.

Mbah said that additionally, tower members are being fabricated and assembled on-site to expedite construction.

She said that the company was committed to quick restoration of bulk power on the line route.

Construction work on the Jos “ Gombe transmission line, taking supply up to Damaturu and environs,will be completed and energised by the May 20while theDamaturu “ Maiduguri axis will be completed onMay 27.

Expectedly, bulk power transmission will be fully restored on the affected 330kV transmission line by May 27, Yola and Jos DisCos will also be able to offtake and distribute optimally from TCN substations.

For now, only 38 Megawatts (MW) is wheeled to both Jos and Yola Distribution companies, with each receiving 19MW each, she said.

Mbah said that efforts to take some of the available power to Jalingo was hampered by very high voltage on the line, which could cause a system disturbance.

She said that TCN was aware of the inconveniences resulting from the current inadequate power supply through Yola, and Jos DisCos to electricity customers in the affected states.

Mbah said that the company pledged to earnestly expedite work on the towers, to ensure that they are completed within the time frame indicated. (NAN)