TCN alarms over rising vandalism disrupting power supply

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has expressed deep concern over the rising number of vandalism cases targeting transmission lines and towers, warning that this growing trend is severely disrupting the nation’s power grid and infrastructure

In a statement by TCN’s General Manager for Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the company condemned the early Saturday destruction of the 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line I.

“The TCN hereby reports that vandals have once again attacked its 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one in the early hours of Saturday,” Mbah said. “Early on Saturday, TCN engineers attempted to re-energize the 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one, but the line tripped. After efforts to reclose the line failed, a patrol team of TCN linesmen was dispatched to trace the line for faults.”

Upon inspection, the team discovered that transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 along line one had been vandalized, disrupting bulk power transmission along the route. Additionally, two spans of aluminum conductors from the line had been stolen. Efforts are currently underway to replace the stolen conductors.

The TCN added that while the Lokoja-Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line and bulk power is still being supplied through line two, the company is working to source replacement aluminum conductors for the two spans stolen from line one.

“The growing trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers has become a serious challenge, severely impacting the country’s power infrastructure and hindering the expansion and stability of the national grid,” TCN noted. “This recent incident adds to an alarming pattern of attacks on the transmission network nationwide.”

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