The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a fresh attack on its 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line 1, where vandals stole two spans of aluminium conductor early on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The theft has caused a disruption in bulk power transmission along the route.
In a statement issued by the company’s General Manager for Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, TCN explained that engineers were initially dispatched to re-energize the transmission line after it tripped.
However, after several attempts to restore power failed, a team of linesmen was sent to inspect the site. The inspection revealed that transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 had been vandalized, further halting the transmission process.
The statement clarified that while the damage was significant, the double-circuit line allowed TCN to continue supplying bulk power through Line 2. Efforts are now underway to replace the stolen aluminium conductors, though the incident adds to the growing problem of vandalism plaguing the country’s power infrastructure.
“Upon examination, it was discovered that two spans of aluminium conductor had been stolen from Line 1, severely disrupting power transmission,” TCN’s statement read. This latest incident follows a worrying pattern of attacks on transmission lines, which has undermined the stability and expansion of Nigeria’s national grid.
In addition to the attack on the Lokoja-Gwagwalada line, TCN pointed to several other recent incidents of vandalism, especially in the Gwagwalada area. These included attacks on the Gwagwalada-Kukuwaba-Apo line in December 2023 and the Gwagwalada-Katampe line in February 2024.
These recurring incidents have severely impacted the country’s power infrastructure, hindering efforts to stabilize and expand the national grid.
TCN appealed to the public, particularly residents of communities near transmission lines and towers, to collaborate with the company and security forces to prevent further damage.
“Vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system,” the statement emphasized.
