By Sylvanus Viashima
JALINGO – Irked by the prolong blackout in Jalingo the Taraba state and the North East region in general, the Taraba State government on Thursday said that the Federal Government’s delay in addressing the issue shows negligence to the State and the entire region.
The Commissioner of Energy and Economic Development, Miss Naomi Agbu, said this at a Press conference in Jalingo.
She said that the total blackout has caused great damage and has stired a spike in in crime and security challenges.
Agbu said the senseless acts of sabotage have not only jeopardized the reliability of electrical infrastructure in the North-East region but have also resulted in widespread inconvenience and hardship for communities, plunging millions into blackout.
“I am deeply saddened by the recent disruption in electricity supply caused by the vandalization of four (4) transmission line towers along Jos-Gombe 330kV line on 22 April 2024. This issue is a federal matter and I want to assure you that we are taking this matter very seriously and we have been working tirelessly with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) to address the situation. We have also contacted the Minister of Power, and we are yet to get positive feedback for the weeks of blackout to a state capital such as Jalingo in Nigeria.
“The lengthy time to respond to this matter is concerning as it shows complete neglect by the Federal Government of Nigeria to Taraba State and the region. If there is one thing, we have all learnt in the past few days from the response time to faults and the priority of the heads in the sector, is that the network to the North-East region is vulnerable. The outcry for a robust plan such as the North – East ring circuit as contained in the proposal of TCN expansion plan to connect the North – East to the South of Nigeria should be implemented by the FGN immediately.
“Other states have gotten partial reconnection to electricity supply due to the back feeding of the old TCN 132kV line stretching from Jos via Bauchi, Gombe, Savanah to Yola and Jalingo. The unfortunate reality is that this 132kV line that is to back feed Jalingo was reported to be old with peculiarity of been lengthy and lightly loaded as at today, and hence poses in effect high voltage due to farranti effect at the farthest end of the line in which Taraba state is one of such points. Furthermore, the line is pegged at around 40MW – 48MW which is far below its installed capacity and YEDC is getting around 19MW for Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Taraba.
“Recent reports received have shown spikes in crimes and insecurity issues for a region like the North-East that is already endangered. The cascading effects to our regional economy especially in terms of food production cannot be over exaggerated.
“To our sister states in the North-East region, we have felt and observed keenly the increase in the insecurity that has plagued us all especially during these days of total blackout for some and partial electricity supply restored for some. I implore all of you to be vigilant and also take decisive actions by engaging the host communities of electrical infrastructure such as the TCN transmission lines and towers and ensure that security is provided. These infrastructures are the lifeline of this region, and an attack on one is an attack on all. I also call on all our federal representatives in the region to be proactive in probing the lengthy disregard for power restoration to the North-East region of Nigeria.
“I understand the frustration and inconvenience that this disruption has caused to all our dear residents. We as a Ministry waited in addressing the public until significant progress has commenced by the FGN, of which we have been informed that TCN has handed over the site to the contractor and restoration works has commenced. We do not have a definitive date for when power will be supplied, because it is the job of the FGN to restore transmission line services” the statement reads in parts.
Our Correspondent reports that Jalingo and parts of Northern Taraba is currently experiencing total blackout for almost Three weeks, resulting in acute water shortage and other extreme hardships, coupled with the lack of fuel and the consequent hike in the price.