The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has raised an urgent alarm over the rising wave of vandalism across its power transmission infrastructure, warning that the trend threatens the sustainability and reliability of electricity supply nationwide.
Engr. Nasir Mansur S. Fada, General Manager of TCN’s Kaduna Region, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ engagement held in Kaduna, themed “The Danger of Encroachment and Vandalism.” The sensitisation forum was part of TCN’s renewed efforts to enhance public awareness, safeguard critical infrastructure, and ensure energy security across host communities.
According to Fada, the TCN has been overwhelmed by frequent cases of vandalism, theft, and illegal encroachments on power lines and installations, resulting in avoidable disruptions to transmission and enormous financial losses. He stressed that continued attacks on the national grid infrastructure will jeopardize the country’s already fragile power supply system.
“We are committed to delivering improved power supply, but this cannot be realized if our infrastructure is constantly under threat from vandals and illegal structures built under transmission lines,” Fada warned.
He stated that TCN had recently installed new transformers and embarked on several upgrade and expansion projects across different parts of the country. However, he emphasized that these improvements could only yield sustainable results with strong community collaboration and enhanced protection of assets.
The stakeholder engagement served as a platform to educate residents on the grave dangers of building or farming under transmission lines. It also addressed how such actions not only endanger lives but also compromise the safety and functionality of the power grid.
Across Nigeria, the TCN has recorded several incidents of tower collapses, cable thefts, and vandalisation of substations, all of which severely hamper energy distribution. In the last year alone, more than 10 transmission towers were reportedly brought down by vandals in key locations like Abuja, Lagos, and Rivers, disrupting power flow to millions of households and businesses.
Engr. Fada reiterated that the Federal Government’s energy reform efforts, including the Siemens power project, will face continued sabotage unless stakeholders—including security agencies, local governments, and residents—join forces to protect existing infrastructure.
Traditional and community leaders present at the engagement welcomed the sensitisation campaign and pledged to support TCN’s efforts by mobilising local youth, setting up vigilance groups, and reporting suspicious activities near power facilities.
A community chief from Kaduna North, Alhaji Abdullahi Danjuma, said:
“Our people now understand the implications of these criminal acts. We will no longer allow miscreants to endanger our power supply future. We urge TCN to keep us in the loop and support community-based surveillance.”
The TCN also called on policymakers to enact stricter penalties for those found guilty of sabotaging power infrastructure. Additionally, it appealed for more investments in digital surveillance tools such as drones, CCTV systems, and real-time monitoring to secure remote installations.
With Nigeria targeting improved electricity generation and distribution under the national energy transition plan, power infrastructure protection has become an essential national priority.
As Nigeria battles to overcome its long-standing power sector challenges, the TCN’s warning underscores a broader reality: that national energy progress depends not only on policy and investment but on communal vigilance and collective responsibility. Without urgent and coordinated efforts to curb vandalism, the goal of uninterrupted power supply may remain elusive.
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