Over 18 transmission towers vandalised in January — TCN
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported that over 18 transmission towers were vandalized between January 9 and January 14 in Rivers, Abia, and Kano states.
Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s spokesperson, issued a statement on Sunday detailing the incidents. According to Emmanuel Okpa, the General Manager of TCN’s Port Harcourt Region, routine inspections by linesmen on January 10 discovered damage to towers 171 through 181 and 184.
On January 14, vandals targeted towers 146, 147, and 149 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV line in Rivers, removing base brackets and compromising the towers’ structural stability.
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In Abia State, Mr. Azuh Lucky, Head of the Lines Department for the region, reported the theft of bolts, nuts, and structural components from towers 160 to 162 on the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line.
Meanwhile, in Kano, vandals caused significant damage to towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line on January 9, weakening their structural integrity and threatening collapse.
On January 17, TCN engineers discovered damaged 132kV underground transmission cables near Millennium Park in Abuja, which disrupted power supply to the central area and surrounding regions.
These incidents are posing significant challenges to TCN’s operations, according to Mbah. She explained that in response, the company has ramped up security measures, increased patrols, and added more vigilante groups, while also working with security agencies to combat the problem.
Mbah called for the support of all Nigerians, especially those living near TCN installations. She stressed the importance of recognizing the transmission network as a vital national asset crucial to the country’s socioeconomic development.
“The vandals and those who purchase stolen materials are actively sabotaging the nation’s progress. We must all unite to protect the power sector, which is essential for our growth,” Mbah stated.
She further emphasized that the continuous vandalism is putting significant strain on TCN’s grid expansion plans, with the financial cost of repairs and the added pressure on the grid negatively affecting its development goals.
“This is a call to all Nigerians to stand together with TCN and put an end to this destructive behavior, safeguarding our electricity network,” Mbah concluded.
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