The disruption of electricity supply in Taraba State due to the vandalism of four transmission line towers along the Jos-Gombe 330kV line has drawn the attention of Governor Agbu Kefas.
Since the incident on 22 April 2024, the state has been plunged into darkness for nearly three weeks, a situation that Governor Kefas finds unacceptable.
During a press conference in Jalingo on Thursday, the Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, Naomi Tanko Agbu, representing the Governor, condemned the sabotage as a thoughtless act.
Addressing the media, she emphasized the negative impact of such actions, stating, “These senseless acts of sabotage have not only undermined the reliability of electrical infrastructure in the North-East region but have also caused significant inconvenience and suffering to our people, leaving millions without power.”
Governor Kefas also criticized the slow response in resolving the issue, accusing the federal government of neglecting Taraba State and the region.
He highlighted the vulnerability of the network to the North-East region and called for the immediate implementation of the proposed North-East ring circuit in the TCN expansion plan to link the North-East with the South of Nigeria.
Encouraging the people to remain vigilant, he urged them to report any suspicious activities near transmission line towers or electrical facilities to prevent further vandalism.
Whistleblowers can contact YEDC using the provided phone numbers, and the Ministry of Energy and Economic Development is also available for reports on vandalism.
Additionally, Governor Kefas called on federal representatives from the state and the northeast region to actively investigate the prolonged delay in restoring power in the region.
Assuring the public of the government’s commitment to restoring normal electricity supply and implementing measures to prevent future vandalism incidents, he pledged to take necessary actions.