- Between January 9 and 14, more than 18 TCN transmission towers were vandalised in Rivers, Abia, and Kano states.
- TCN has ramped security efforts and appealed for public support to protect Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported that more than 18 transmission towers were vandalised between January 9 and 14 across Rivers, Abia, and Kano states. The damage has raised significant concerns over the security and reliability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure.
According to TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, Emmanuel Okpa, the General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt region, disclosed that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10 uncovered extensive damage to towers 171 to 181 and tower 184. The situation worsened on January 14, when vandals targeted towers 146, 147, and 149 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV line in Rivers State, removing crucial base brackets and threatening the stability of the structures.
In Abia State, Azuh Lucky, head of the regional lines department, reported that bolts, nuts, and other structural components were stolen from towers 160 to 162 on the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line during repairs on January 13. Meanwhile, in Kano, three towers along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line, numbered 105, 106, and 107, were critically damaged by vandals on January 9, compromising their integrity and increasing the risk of collapse.
Further incidents were reported on January 17, when TCN engineers discovered vandalized 132kV underground transmission cables near Millennium Park in Abuja. This led to power outages affecting the central area and its surroundings.
Ms Mbah emphasised the severe challenges these acts of vandalism pose to TCN’s operations. She said the company has increased security measures, enhanced line patrols, and worked closely with local vigilante groups and security agencies. However, she called for broader community support, urging Nigerians, especially those near power infrastructure, to recognise the importance of safeguarding these assets for the nation’s socio-economic development.
She condemned the actions of the vandals and those who profit from stolen materials, highlighting the negative impact on Nigeria’s power sector. “All hands must be on deck to ensure the growth of the nation’s power sector, which is critical to the country’s development,” she said.
Ms. Mbah also noted that the ongoing vandalism is straining TCN’s grid expansion efforts, causing significant financial costs due to the constant need for repairs and maintenance. The repeated attacks are damaging infrastructure and hindering progress in expanding the national grid.
The recent surge in vandalism, including the January 17 attack on Abuja’s 132kV transmission line, which disrupted the power supply to the Nigerian president’s office, has further underlined the urgency of tackling the issue.