c claimed that 18 of its transmission towers in Rivers, Abia, and Kano states were vandalised between January 9 and 14, 2025.
TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, released a statement on Sunday in Abuja, lamenting the massive damage, which will pose a considerable challenge to its operations.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) regrets to announce that over 18 transmission towers were vandalized between January 9 and 14, 2025, across Rivers, Abia, and Kano States,” Mbah stated.
Citing details from the General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, Engr. Emmanuel Okpa, Mbah disclosed that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10 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,” she added.
The region’s head of the lines department, Azuh Lucky, said that on January 13, bolts, nuts and structural elements were stolen from towers 160 to 162 along the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line that was being repaired in Abia.
On January 9, towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line were seriously weakened, causing major damage to Kano State as well.
“Meanwhile, in Kano, towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line were critically damaged by vandals, risking collapse and jeopardizing the structural integrity of the installations,” Mbah explained.
Additionally, on January 17, vandalized 132kV underground transmission cables were discovered near Millennium Park in Abuja, disrupting power supply to the central area and its environs.
“These incidents pose a significant challenge to our operations as a company,” Mbah emphasized.
“We have bolstered security measures, increased lines patrol, and the number of vigilante groups, and we are also collaborating with security operatives,” she added.
Appealing to the public, Mbah called for collective responsibility in safeguarding the transmission network, which she described as critical to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.
“We must collectively recognize that the transmission network is our collective asset. Vandals and their collaborators are sabotaging the nation. All hands must be on deck to ensure the growth of the nation’s power sector, which is critical to our country’s development.
“This is a clarion call for everyone to join forces with TCN to put an end to this menace and safeguard our electricity network,” Mbah concluded.
The statement highlighted the financial burden of repairing vandalized installations and its impact on TCN’s grid expansion plans, stressing the need for immediate action to address the menace.
