63 TCN towers destroyed in eight months – FG

A total of 63 power transmission towers were destroyed by vandals between January and August this year, the latest industry data from the Federal Ministry of Power has revealed.

Most of the towers were destroyed in the northern part of the country. A few others were vandalised in the southern and eastern regions.

The activities of vandals led to the complete collapse of 17 of the towers, while the components such as conductors, underground cables, braces, etc, of the remaining towers were carted away by the miscreants.

This contributed to the poor supply of electricity in the affected locations, according to senior officials of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, an agency of the Federal Government that manages the country’s power grid and towers.

Providing details on the towers destroyed in 2024, the company stated that Tower 388 on the 132kV Jos-Bauchi single-circuit transmission line located in Bauchi/Yelwa and Gwalameji was collapsed by vandals.

Towers 377 and 378 on the 330kV Gombe-Damaturu transmission line along Bauchi/Gombe and Damaturu were also collapsed by vandals.

The activities of vandals further led to the collapse of Towers 125, 126, 193, 194, and 195 on the 330kV Damaturu-Maiduguri transmission line in Bauchi/Molai.

On the 132kV Bauchi-Gombe line located in Bauchi/Bauchi town, four towers including Towers 450, 452, 453, and 455 were vandalised and some members of the towers were removed.

The government report stated that Tower 70 on the 330kV Gwagwalada-Katampe transmission line in Abuja was vandalised, as four footings of the tower were destroyed.

It also stated that two towers (244 and 245) were vandalised at the 330kV Shiroro-Katampe transmission line in Abuja.

Other locations where towers were vandalised include Port Harcourt/Eleme, four towers; Port Harcourt/Ahoada, one tower; Port Harcourt/Ogboghene, two towers;  Shiroro/Kawo, three towers; and Bauchi/Dumi and Inkil, four towers.

In Bauchi/Biu and Damboa, three towers were destroyed; Bauchi/New Baga road, one tower; Kaduna/Jogana, three towers; Kano/Dangora, four towers; Kano/Jogana, three towers; and Kano/Gunduwawa village, one tower.

The report further noted that two towers were destroyed in Enugu/Boko village; two in Enugu/Amansea; one in Enugu/Oji River; five in Enugu/Amaezu; and four in Enugu/Oji Nachi.

In Enugu/New Heaven, one tower was destroyed; while five others were destroyed in other different locations in Enugu State during the review period.

One tower was destroyed in the Benin/Oluku community; and one in the Osogbo/Oba-Oke area.

The PUNCH recently reported that the deliberate destruction of power infrastructure, including transmission lines, substations, and distribution equipment, was hindering the country’s ability to provide reliable electricity to its citizens and undermining the government’s initiatives to drive growth and prosperity.

The report noted that as the authorities strive to ‘light up’ Nigeria, the scourge of vandalism poses a significant threat to the realisation of this vision.

The Federal Government said it had succeeded in raising power generation to 5GW from 4GW. However, vandals did not allow Nigerians to enjoy a stable power supply.

In recent times, it appears the vandals now operate with renewed vigour, defying all security arrangements to pull down electricity installations.

However, the spokesperson of TCN, Ndidi Mbah, said the company had been going after the vandals with the help of security agencies.

“Some of the tower vandals have been apprehended by armed vigilantes and we are not relenting in apprehending all of them,” she stated.