The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported another act of vandalism on the 330kV Shiroro–Katampe transmission line, marking the fifth such incident since February. This latest attack occurred on Wednesday.
Ndidi Mbah, TCN spokesperson, announced the disruption via the company’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, explaining that the transmission line experienced a power outage and tripped again after an attempted reclosure.
An investigation by a TCN patrol team revealed that vandals had stolen sections of the power conductor between towers T216 and T218. Efforts are underway to restore power, with TCN maintenance teams mobilized to replace the damaged conductor.
Mbah appealed to the public for vigilance:
“We appeal to the general public to assist in identifying and reporting suspicious activities around power transmission infrastructure. Your vigilance is crucial in helping us prevent vandalism and apprehend culprits.”
Recurring Vandalism Strains Nigeria’s Power Sector
This incident highlights the persistent threat to Nigeria’s critical power infrastructure. The repeated attacks have disrupted power supply, led to costly repairs, and delayed service restoration, exacerbating the country’s fragile electricity grid.
TCN noted its frustration over the recurring damage, emphasizing that these acts undermine progress toward a stable energy supply. Repairing vandalized infrastructure diverts resources away from modernization and expansion projects, hindering efforts to improve electricity access across the nation.
In 2024 alone, the Federal Government has spent N8.8 billion repairing damaged transmission infrastructure. This financial burden is detracting from investments needed to strengthen the grid and address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
Mbah urged citizens to play an active role in safeguarding critical infrastructure to ensure reliable power supply and support the nation’s development goals.
