TCN Restores Power to Bayelsa After 4-Month Blackout

On July 29, some vandals went rogue and destroyed 20 massive transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132KV electricity line. Fun fact (but not so fun for Bayelsa): this was the only line supplying power to the entire state. No line = no lights. Period.

According to Emmanuel Anyaegbulem, the General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, fixing those towers wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. It took months of sweat, grit, and serious engineering to bring power back. Why? Because rebuilding just one tower costs a cool ₦13 million. Imagine that multiplied by 20—yikes!

To put it in perspective, these towers are like giant power lifelines. Once vandals cut off the brackets holding them steady, even a tiny breeze can bring the whole thing tumbling down. And boy, did they fall—one after another between Ahoada in Rivers State and Yenagoa in Bayelsa.

Fast-forward to November 30—the day Bayelsa officially emerged from the dark ages. The TCN team worked non-stop, erecting and restringing all 20 towers. Talk about dedication! After months of frustration, the streets are buzzing again, and residents are breathing a sigh of relief.

Here’s the kicker: while fixing the towers, TCN’s police squad arrested 10 suspects caught vandalizing their facilities. Out of the 10, four have already been convicted—justice served, am I right? The remaining six are still in police custody, which sends a pretty strong message: mess with power, and you’re going down.

Despite the drama, TCN isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Emmanuel Anyaegbulem shared some pretty cool achievements that went down this year:

• 100MVA Power Transformer installed at the Port Harcourt Main Transmission Substation (hello, big energy!).
• A spanking new 150MVA 330/33KV Transformer delivered to the Adjabo Transmission Substation.
• The Itu Substation Upgrade, which added a 60MVA transformer, digital control panels, new feeders, isolators, and circuit breakers. Translation: smoother and stronger power supply.

These upgrades mean one thing—the lights are not only back, but they’re here to stay.

TCN isn’t stopping at restoring power; they’re pushing for uninterrupted supply to keep things lit (literally). By supporting Distribution Companies (DisCos), they’re ensuring that homes, businesses, and schools across the region stay powered up.

So, shoutout to the incredible TCN team for pulling off a massive comeback. Bayelsa is glowing again, and we’re here for it! Stay charged, stay bright—better days are ahead.