- From January to August 2024, Vandals destroyed 63 power transmission towers in Nigeria, severely impacting the electricity supply in affected regions.
- The destruction includes the collapse of 17 towers and theft of critical components, undermining the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilise power generation.
According to recent data from the Federal Ministry of Power, between January and August 2024, vandals destroyed 63 power transmission towers across Nigeria. Most of the damage occurred in the northern regions, with some vandalism reported in the southern and eastern parts of the country.
The destruction included the complete collapse of 17 towers, while components such as conductors, underground cables, and braces from the remaining towers were stolen. This extensive damage has significantly impacted the electricity supply in the affected areas, as noted by officials from the Transmission Company of Nigeria, which manages the nation’s power grid.
Among the notable incidents, Tower 388 on the 132kV Jos-Bauchi line in Bauchi/Yelwa and Gwalameji collapsed, as were Towers 377 and 378 on the 330kV Gombe-Damaturu line along Bauchi/Gombe and Damaturu. Additional collapses were reported on the 330kV Damaturu-Maiduguri line, including Towers 125, 126, 193, 194, and 195.
In the Bauchi-Gombe area, 450, 452, 453, and 455 on the 132kV line were vandalised, and Tower 70 on the 330kV Gwagwalada-Katampe line in Abuja saw four of its footings destroyed. Other targeted areas included Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, and Benin, with multiple towers damaged or destroyed in these regions.
The vandalism is worsening Nigeria’s already strained electricity supply, undermining government efforts to improve power generation, which recently increased to 5GW from 4GW. The Federal Government has expressed concern that ongoing vandalism threatens the stability of the power infrastructure and impedes progress toward a reliable electricity supply for the nation.
Despite improvements in power generation, vandalism continues to undermine these advancements, challenging the government’s ability to ensure a stable power supply across the country.