- Vandals targeted a 132kV transmission line in Abuja, disrupting power supply to key areas, including Maitama, Wuse, and parts of the Presidential Villa.
- The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has mobilized engineers to repair the damage and is urging Nigerians to help protect power infrastructure.
Transmission lines supplying electricity to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, were again targeted by vandals, resulting in widespread power disruptions across several key areas. The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, January 17, 2024, when the 132kV transmission line and underground cable, responsible for transmitting bulk power to the 132kV Central Area transmission substation in Katampe, were sabotaged.
Bolaji Tunji, the Minister of Power’s special adviser on strategic communications and media, confirmed the incident through a press release. He condemned the recurring problem of vandalism of power infrastructure, which has been severely affecting electricity supply in the region. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has already dispatched a team of engineers to the site to repair the damage and restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible.
The disruption, which affected critical parts of Abuja, notably impacted eight distribution feeders that supply electricity to the Central Area, including areas such as Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa. This vandalism affected over 60 per cent of the Federal Capital Territory’s power supply.
According to Ndidi Mbah, the General Manager of Public Affairs at TCN, the culprits have stolen 40 meters of 1x500mm xlpe conductor from two 132kV transmission lines. The sabotage is suspected to have occurred near Menillum Park in Abuja, a location that has previously been associated with such criminal activity.
The disruption reminds us of the challenges faced by Nigeria’s power sector due to vandals’ actions, which continue to hinder efforts to provide reliable electricity to citizens. In response to the incident, TCN engineers have been mobilised to assess the damage and begin repairs. The company has urged the affected residents to be patient while work is underway.
The TCN also appealed to Nigerians to be more vigilant and take proactive measures to protect the nation’s power infrastructure. With this latest incident, the company calls for increased public collaboration to prevent further damage to critical transmission equipment, essential for maintaining a stable and reliable power supply across the country.
This ongoing problem of infrastructure vandalism not only disrupts daily life for millions of Nigerians but hampers the country’s efforts to improve its power distribution system and meet growing electricity demands.