Adamawa Community Blocks TCN’s Reactor Transfer to Jebba
From Umar Dankano, Yola
Residents of Mayo-Belwa in Adamawa State have halted the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) from relocating a 75MVAR/330KV shunt reactor from the Mayo-Belwa transmission substation to Jebba in Niger State.
The issue arose on Saturday, January 18, 2025, when locals noticed three trailers within the substation premises, with workers dismantling the reactor. This sparked alarm and suspicion among residents, leading the Mayo-Belwa Concerned Citizens Association to intervene and stop the removal.
Attempts by TCN officials, led by the Assistant General Manager (AGM) Engineer Mustapha Hassan, to continue the relocation were unsuccessful. A meeting was subsequently convened on Monday, January 20, involving TCN officials, local government representatives, and the Concerned Citizens Association, but no resolution was reached.
During the meeting, Engineer Hassan explained that the reactor’s relocation was critical to improving electricity supply to the national grid. He assured the community that the equipment would be replaced soon, urging them to support the national interest.
However, the Chairman of the Mayo-Belwa Concerned Citizens Association, Alhaji Mohammad Lawan Danladi, criticized TCN’s approach, stating that the community had not been informed beforehand. He cited past instances of unexplained equipment removals, which left residents skeptical of TCN’s intentions.
“This has happened multiple times in various sectors, including power, water supply, and healthcare, with no accountability,” Danladi said. “We demand proper procedures involving the local government council in future decisions.”
The Vice Chairman of Mayo-Belwa Local Government, Hajiya Hauwa Ndittijo Yarima, urged calm and promised to address the issue with the council chairman upon his return.
A letter signed by TCN’s Managing Director, Engr. S.A. Abdulaziz, dated November 12, 2024, authorized the relocation of the reactor to Jebba. However, community resistance remains firm, pending further consultations.
