Innocent BenjaminWhen not dealing with insurgent attacks, the city of Maiduguri as well as its neighbouring towns have had to deal with the crude ways of life that come without electricity for the past few weeks.
The communities were plunged into darkness on January, 17 2021, when suspected members of the terrorist sect, Boko Haram, attacked an electricity tower which supplied power to the community, disconnecting it from the national grid. The lines affected were the 330kV transmission line between Maiduguri and Damaturu along with the Damboa – Maiduguri 132kV transmission line, which severed electricity supply to every home or facility in that vicinity.
This marked a second time that an attempt on sabotaging the power lines had been carried out and it proved successful this time, as insurgency continue to reign free in Northern Nigeria.
However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has shared belated good news that repairs have begun, to restore electricity to citizens affected, after significant backing in financial support, workforce and equipment from the Borno state government.
Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, General Manager, Public Affairs of the TCN, revealed that the three affected tension towers are T159, T160, and T161 of 330kV Damaturu-Maiduguri Transmission Line. While work has progressed on Tower T159 in the complete erection of a new foundation, Mrs Ndidi reiterated that the required materials and equipment needed for the other two towers had been acquired.
“The tower foundation has been completed. This means that electricity supply would be restored as quickly as possible on completion of the tower erection work,” she said, quoting Mr. Sule Abdulaziz, Acting Managing Director of TCN, who had witnessed first-hand work at the site following an on-the-spot inspection on one of his visits.
“I want to apologise on behalf of the TCN over what happened in Maiduguri and the north-east as a whole. We understand the urgent need for power supply, especially on this axis at this time. I want to assure you that the TCN is committed to doing all that is possible to make sure that the power supply is restored as quickly as possible.
“All the materials you see here will be installed very quickly, you can see all the materials, the conductors, composite insulators, channel irons and you can see our workforce at work already, fabricating the parts.
“Everybody is working, and they have been working every day, Saturday and Sunday inclusive. This is because we are bent on ensuring that light is restored as soon as possible in Maiduguri and environs.”
The governor, Babagana Zulum, also gave his word and assurance through his Commissioner for Housing and Energy, Mr. Yuguda Vungas, who represented him for the press brief,
“The efforts of the state government is to provide the necessary support and equipment for the transmission company of Nigeria to reconnect the state to the national grid for its citizenry to have regular supply of electricity.”
10 Year Losing Battle ?
Borno, the second largest state in the country, has borne majority of the unfortunate brunt of insurgency meted out by bandits and Boko Haram in Nigeria over the past 10 years.
The wide scope of the land makes it difficult for the terrorists to be tracked down, as majority of the undeveloped state is shrouded in forests. In comparison, 21 pieces of Lagos will comfortably nestle into the northern city .
On Sunday, the insurgents hoisted a flag in some parts of Borno as they tragically move closer to their goal of creating an islamist state in the country.
OFONIMEH JOHNSON
James steller
Mitrobe Staff