Vandals cripple power supply, destroy 18 towers in five days

No fewer than 18 electricity towers supplying power to various franchise areas in three states have been destroyed and stolen by vandals within five days.

The states are Rivers, Abia, and Kano.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria announced in a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Sunday in Abuja.

It was stated that these incidents present a major challenge to operations and hinder the fulfilment of its mandate to reliably supply uninterrupted power to Nigerians.

The TCN noted that the incidents were uncovered during routine checks and affected grid expansion plans by the government.

The statement said, “The Transmission Company of Nigeria regrets to announce that over 18 transmission towers were vandalised between January 9 and 14, 2025, across Rivers, Abia, and Kano States.

“The General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, Engr. Emmanuel Okpa reported that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10, 2025, uncovered damage to towers 171 through 181 and tower 184.

“On January 14, vandals targeted towers 146, 147, and 149 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV line in Rivers State, removing base brackets and compromising the stability of the towers.

“In Abia State, Head of the Lines Department for the Region, Engr. Azuh Lucky, reported the theft of bolts, nuts, and structural members from towers 160 to 162 on the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line, which was under repair on January 13, 2025.”

Meanwhile, in Kano, towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line were critically damaged by vandals on January 9, 2025, compromising their structural integrity and risking collapse.

Also, in the early hours of Friday, January 17, 2025, vandalised 132kV underground transmission cables were discovered by TCN engineers near Millennium Park in Abuja. This affected the power supply to the central area and its environs.

This resulted in a power outage at the presidential villa and the office of the minister of power, among other areas.

Speaking further, Ndidi lamented the spate of vandalism incidents, stressing that vandals and those who buy stolen materials are sabotaging the nation.

She added, “These incidents pose a significant challenge to our operations as a company. We have bolstered security measures, increased lines of patrol, and increased 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.

“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 vandalised 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.”

In the 2025 budget, the power ministry proposed a budget of N8bn for a nationwide public sensitisation campaign to stop the destruction of critical power infrastructure and prompt payment of electricity bills.