The government of Bayelsa says the vandalization of power towers and consequent blackout in the state was an attack on the socioeconomic wellbeing of the people of the state.
The state government regretted that the power outage which has entered its third week is a sabotage on government’s investment drive.
Mrs. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, spoke to reporters on Sunday in Yenagoa on the power crisis in Bayelsa.
She spoke shortly after an on-the-spot assessment of the ongoing works to re-erect the two out of the three collapsed power towers at the Igbogene area of Yenagoa.
While repair efforts were onggoing at Igbigene end of the Ahoada-Yenagoa end Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) line, 13 additional towers were vandalised at Ahoada end. .
Koku-Obiyai advised residents to be vigilant and join forces to maintain surveillance on power installations.
She noted that the recent extensive attack on powerlines supplying electricity to the state is suggestive of a calculated attempt at making life difficult for the resident of the state
She urged the people to join the government in condemning the unfortunate criminal attacks on power towers.
The Information Commissioner however commended the TCN for responding quickly to Bayelsa government’s calls to restore the collapsed towers.
She expressed optimism that power will be restored, with the quick commencement of repair works in Bayelsa and 13 other collapsed towers between Okugbe and Mbiama in Rivers soon.
The commissioner urged political gladiators to desist from turning the disaster into blame game as their attitude is capable of strengthening the hands of the vandals.
She explained that the vandals are likely to find support in their political approach to the serious issues of development.
“We urge the people of Bayelsa to be patient with the Federal Government controlled Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“TCN are the owners and operators of the powerline, every effort is being made to rehabilitate the damaged power towers to restore supply to the state,” she said.
Koku-Obiyai noted that the state will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to forestall a future occurrence of the willful damage of power infrastructure in the state.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited (BECL), Engr. Olice Kemenanabo said the Bayelsa government is committed to working with every stakeholder to ensure that power is restored soon.
Kemenanabo expressed regret over the attitude of residents to government asset, insisting that the only way to ensure that citizens derive enduring benefit from the amenities in their communities is to own such assets and protect them.
He explained that since the residents are the primary beneficiaries of such infrastructure, it is only imperative and reasonable that they keep an eye on the installations.
The Managing Director, who said that but for the vandalization of 13 additional towers between Okogbe and Mbiama, power would have been restored in four weeks.
He called on the security agents in the state to be focused in fishing out these unscrupulous elements and their accomplices that shut the economic activities in the state.
He however assured the residents that with the activation of the emergency clauses by TCN for the rehabilitation of the towers, power would likely be restored within five weeks.