Senate allocates funds for repair of Gombe – Maiduguri transmission line
The Senate has directed the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to expedite repairs on the vandalized Jos-Gombe transmission line in order to restore power to the Northeast region.
This directive was made during a plenary session on Wednesday, where concerns were raised about the blackout being experienced in six states in the North East and parts of Plateau State due to the reported vandalization of key transmission towers on the Jos-Gombe route.
Additionally, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Power to allocate funds for these repairs and to consider extending the transmission line to include the Gombe-Maiduguri route.
These resolutions were put forward following a motion by Senator Manu Haruna (Taraba Central) and were supported by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Moreover, the Senate appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fast-track the construction of the Makurdi-Jalingo-Yola-Gombe 330KV transmission line.
This initiative aims to connect the North East to the South East transmission line, providing an alternative supply path in case of faults on the Jos-Gombe line.
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Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) emphasised the importance of identifying and penalising those responsible for the vandalism, highlighting the detrimental impact on social infrastructure.
He stressed that it is unacceptable to destroy social infrastructure and called for accountability in this regard.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central) highlighted the dire situation in parts of the North East, which have been without power for the past two years, exacerbating the challenges faced by major facilities such as airports and hospitals.
He emphasised the urgent need for restoration of power to these areas to ensure essential services can function effectively.
The Senate’s directives aim to tackle the power crisis in the North East and work towards safeguarding vital infrastructure from further vandalism. Collaboration with security agencies and vigilantes in host communities of TCN transmission lines is also emphasised to prevent future incidents of sabotage.
