A collapsed transmission tower between Funtua in Katsina state and Gusau in Zamfara state is threatening stable electricity supply across Sokoto and two other states.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in a statement said the collapsed 132kv Tower No. 307 caused capacity constraints on its Birnin-Kebbi-Sokoto-Talata-Mafara-Gusau transmission line.
The spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, said as a remedial measure however, the company has started back-feeding distribution load centres in Gusau through the 80 megawatts (MW) transmission line.
It said the combined capacity of Sokoto, Talata-Mafara and Gusau is much higher than the maximum capacity the line is built to carry. This has resulted in overload of the line and reduced bulk electricity to Sokoto, Birnin-Kebbi and Gusau.
TCN said it had already mobilized a contractor to start erecting a new tower which would be completed in two weeks.
The company further stated that under the on-going Transmission Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme (TREP), procurement for the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi-Sokoto 330kv transmission line and a 330kv substation in Sokoto will soon commence.
It said the procurement of high capacity conductors for re-conductoring Birnin Kebbi-Sokoto and Kaduna-Zaria-Funtua-Gusau 132kV Transmission lines that will double the current capacity of the lines has also reached advanced stage.
TCN appealed to the governments and good people of Sokoto and Zamfara States for patience as work is in progress.
