The Transmission Company of Nigeria has said that over 18 electricity transmission towers were vandalized in Rivers, Abia, and Kano States between January 9 and 14, 2025 causing blackout nationwide.
The General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, Emmanuel Okpa, reported that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10, 2025, uncovered damage to towers 171 through 181 and tower 184.
Also, 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.
Abia State 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.
In the early hours of January 17, 2025, vandalized 132kV underground transmission cables were discovered near Millennium Park in Abuja. This affected power supply to the central area and its environs.
Though, security measures bolstered to increase added patrols by vigilante groups, and also collaboration with security operatives have been established.
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 TCN’s grid expansion drive.