The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a fresh attack on its 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line 1, with vandals targeting key infrastructure in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024.
In a statement issued on Sunday by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, it was revealed that the damage was discovered after engineers attempted to re-energize the line. Despite repeated efforts to restore power, the line failed to reclose, prompting a patrol team to investigate.
The inspection uncovered extensive vandalism at transmission towers T306, T307, and T308, with two spans of aluminum conductor stolen from the line. This disruption has impacted bulk power transmission along the route.
Mbah explained, “The Lokoja–Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, and while TCN continues to supply bulk power through line two, we are working urgently to source replacement aluminum conductors to repair line one.”
The company noted that this incident is part of an alarming pattern of vandalism that has plagued Nigeria’s transmission network, severely hindering the stability and expansion of the national grid.
In the Gwagwalada area alone, the TCN highlighted previous incidents of vandalism, including attacks on the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo line in December 2023 and the Gwagwalada–Katampe line in February 2024.
“These acts of sabotage disrupt the stability and growth of Nigeria’s power grid, delaying efforts to strengthen the national transmission system,” Mbah stated.
The TCN reiterated its appeal to residents in communities hosting transmission infrastructure to work collaboratively with security agencies to prevent further vandalism.
“Vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines national efforts to improve electricity supply. We urge communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around transmission facilities,” the statement concluded.
