Acts Of Vandalism Affected 264 Transmission Towers Within 18 Months, Hinders Operations – TCN Recounts

Incessant vandalisation of power transmission infrastructure has affected at least 264 transmission towers nationwide in the last 18 months just as it hindered operations of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), according to statistics released Thursday.

Statistics showed that although, acts of vandalising transmission infrastructure visibly became a periodic occurrence since 2023, but it became more frequent in 2024 and peaked in 2025.

Reeling out the statistics on vandalism of power transmission infrastructure, the General Manager, Transmission Services at TCN, Engr. Ali I. Sharafai, observed that “year 2024 and 2025 have been the most trying time for TCN as a responsive public utility due to vandalization of its transmission line infrastructure by the non-state actors.”

Engr. Sharafai who now doubles as the Chairman of the newly inaugurated seven-member Performance Improvement Plan/Power Sector Recovery Operation (PIP/PSRO) Committee, spoke while presenting a paper on “Vandalism of of TCN infrastructure” at a three-day media workshop for Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN).

The theme of the workshop: “Understanding the Critical Role of TCN in Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) was organized by the TCN in Keffi Nasarawa state.

According to Engr. Sharafai, “A total of Eighty-Six (86) towers were vandalised in 2024 with Twenty-Six (26) towers completely down, which put affected states to total darkness. These vandalism span across Abuja, Bauchi, Enugu, Shiroro, Kano and Port-Harcourt Regions.

“While in the first and second quarters of 2025 alone, a total of Forty-Two (42) act of vandalism were recorded affecting a total of 178 towers.”

He explained that most of the vandalism acts were revealed to have been carried out for economic, political reasons and pure acts of sabotage.

With TCN having a total of 111No. 330kV Lines of length 8,792km, 163No. 132kV Lines of length 7,933km which are linked to the 57No. 330/132/33kV and 186No. 132/33kV substations respectively; a total of 18,456No. 330kV pylons (towers) and total of 22,704No. 132kV pylons (towers) in TCN’s network nationwide, it seems practically impossible to protect these assets without active involvement of stakeholders and communities within the locations of the transmission infrastructure.

Engr. Sharafai lamented that acts of vandalism apart from disruption of power supply across NESI, TCN incurs significant costs due to repair, replacement and need for increased security measures to address vandalism; it hinders TCN grid expansion efforts, and puts the company under pressure of concern for public safety whenever transmission infrastructure is vandalized.