The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it lost two transformers valued at $4 million to a fire outbreak in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital.

It was gathered that one 90MVA (330KV/132KV) and 60MVA (132KV/33KV) transformers were gutted by fire during the incident which occurred on Thursday night.

Addressing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi after inspecting the damaged facilities on Friday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Dr Sule AbdulAzeez, described the damages as colossal.

AbdulAzeez recalled that he received a phone call on Thursday night that there was a fire incident in the Kebbi TCN substation, noting that communication lasted throughout the night until when the fire was quenched at about 7 a.m. on Friday.

“That’s why I felt it’s very necessary for me to come down here myself, as well the Executive Director Special Service Provider and General Manager in-charge of Kaduna region to have first-hand information about the incident,” he said.

The TCN boss assured that an investigation committee comprising professionals and specialists would be established with a view to finding out the main cause of the unfortunate incident.

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On the level of damage, AbdulAzeez, who said the company lost two transformers and a control room, however, said their priority was on how to restore light back to the people of Kebbi State and neighbouring states.

He said: “This station is also serving Sokoto not only Kebbi. So, the first thing we are going to do is to backfeed Sokoto through Talatan Mafara in Zamfara State.

“Here in Kebbi also, very quickly, we have already mobilised our engineers. In fact, they have already started opening the cable tranches.

“Again, we have a transformer here which was supplying Niger Republic. Now, it’s not supplying any place; so, we are going to use that transformer to make sure that people of Kebbi get light as quickly as possible.”

AbdulAzeez assured that for the permanent solution, it would take the company two weeks to arrange transformers and other things to restore normal power supply.

“We are still looking at the possibility of backfeeding Kebbi from Sokoto and that can be done in two or three days,” he added.

The TCN MD further appealed to customers to be patient, saying the incident was unexpected.

He added that it had happened and “by the grace of God Almighty we are going to resolve the problem as soon as possible”.

AbdulAzeez assured that the situation “is under control”, saying the TCN would do a comprehensive check of the affected transformers immediately to enable it properly assess the transformers for repair work.

The Star