Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, has voiced his concern regarding the disruption in electricity supply caused by the reported vandalization of four transmission line towers along the Jos-Gombe 330kV line.
The interruption, which occurred on April 22, 2024, has resulted in a complete blackout in the state for nearly three weeks.
During a press briefing held in Jalingo on Thursday, the governor, represented by his Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, Naomi Tanko Agbu, denounced the vandalism as senseless. He remarked, “These senseless acts of sabotage have not only compromised the reliability of electrical infrastructure in the North-East region but have also led to widespread inconvenience and hardship for our community, leaving millions in darkness.”
Governor Kefas also criticized the prolonged delay in resolving the issue, attributing it to what he perceives as neglect by the federal government towards Taraba State and the region.
He emphasized the vulnerability of the network serving the North-East region and advocated for the urgent implementation of a robust plan, such as the North-East ring circuit proposed in the TCN expansion plan, to connect the North-East to the South of Nigeria.
The governor urged residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities or individuals observed near transmission line towers or electrical facilities attempting to vandalize infrastructure. He highlighted that YEDC has provided contact information for whistleblowers to report such incidents.
Furthermore, he called on federal representatives from the state and the North-East region to investigate the prolonged delay in restoring power to the region.
Governor Kefas assured that the state government is fully committed to restoring normal electricity supply and implementing measures to prevent future acts of vandalism.