The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported the vandalism of over 18 transmission towers within six days, from January 9 to January 14, 2025.
TCN General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed the incidents in a statement on Sunday.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) regrets to announce that over 18 transmission towers were vandalised between January 9 and 14, 2025, across Rivers, Abia, and Kano States,” Mbah revealed.
In Rivers State, TCN’s General Manager for the Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Okpa, reported that towers 171 through 181, as well as tower 184 along the 132kV Owerri/Ahoada line, were vandalised.
The incident, discovered during a routine patrol on January 10, involved the removal of base brackets, compromising the towers’ structural stability.
Similarly, in Abia State, Head of the Lines Department, Azuh Lucky, confirmed the theft of bolts, nuts, and structural components from towers 160 to 162 along the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line, which was under repair on January 13.
In Kano, towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV line were severely damaged on January 9, endangering their structural integrity.
Further compounding the challenges, TCN engineers in Abuja discovered vandalised underground transmission cables near Millennium Park on January 17.
This incident disrupted power supply to the central area and surrounding environs.
The TCN appealed to Nigerians, particularly those in communities hosting critical infrastructure, to protect these assets.
“These incidents pose a significant challenge to our operations as a company. We have bolstered security measures, increased lines patrol, and the number of vigilante groups, and we are also collaborating with security operatives.
“However, we need and are appealing for the full support of every Nigerian, particularly those in communities hosting our installations. We must collectively recognise that the transmission network is our collective asset and essential for our socioeconomic development,” Mbah stated.
TCN called for collective action to combat vandalism, stressing the need to safeguard the nation’s power network and ensure the success of grid expansion projects critical to Nigeria’s development.
“The vandals and those who buy stolen materials are sabotaging the nation. All hands must be on deck to ensure the growth of the nation’s power sector, which is critical to the development of our country.
“TCN’s grid expansion plans are under tremendous strain due to the persistent vandalism of its installations. The financial implications of constant repairs to vandalized transmission installations, along with the stress on the grid, are having adverse effects on TCNs grid expansion drive.
“This is a clarion call for everyone to join forces with TCN to put an end to this menace and safeguard our electricity network,” the statement concluded.