The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised alarms over the rising cases of vandalism targeting its transmission lines and towers, warning that such attacks are severely affecting the nation’s power infrastructure and contributing to the frequent collapse of the national grid.
In a statement, TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah highlighted a recent incident in which the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line was damaged early on Saturday. TCN engineers attempted to restore the line but discovered a fault that led to an inspection. Their findings revealed that three transmission towers—T306, T307, and T308—had been vandalized, and two spans of aluminum conductors had been stolen.
While the theft disrupted power transmission in the region, TCN continued to provide electricity through a secondary circuit, and efforts are ongoing to replace the stolen materials.
The company expressed deep concern about the increasing frequency of such attacks, noting that these acts of vandalism significantly hinder efforts to expand and stabilize the national power grid. This recent attack is part of a broader pattern, with previous incidents reported in the Gwagwalada area, including attacks on the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo line last December and the Gwagwalada–Katampe line earlier this year.
TCN has called on residents near transmission infrastructure to collaborate with security agencies to protect these critical assets, emphasizing that vandalism undermines the power supply and disrupts the nation’s collective progress.
“We urge communities near transmission lines and towers to work together with TCN and security operatives to combat this growing menace,” the statement concluded. “Vandalism damages our efforts to strengthen and secure the nation’s transmission system.”
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