Vandals Ravage Power Infrastructure as FG Pumps N8.8bn into Rebuilding Transmission Towers

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that the Federal Government has committed a staggering N8.8 billion towards repairing vandalized transmission towers across the nation in 2024.

According to the Managing Director of TCN, Mr. Sule Abdulaziz, this funding is aimed at addressing the ongoing destruction of critical energy infrastructure by vandals and bandits.

Speaking at the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Abdulaziz, represented by Mr. Olugbenga Ajiboye, the Executive Director of Transmission Service Provider (TSO), revealed that a total of 128 transmission towers had been destroyed since January 2024.

He lamented the widespread destruction of these essential assets, underscoring the financial burden it places on the government and the country’s power grid.

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“It is deeply troubling that despite our efforts to rebuild, these towers continue to be targeted by criminals. To date, we have spent about N8.8 billion restoring these critical infrastructures,” Abdulaziz said.

He also highlighted the systemic flaws in the prosecution of those apprehended for these crimes, explaining that many perpetrators were charged with theft, not the more severe crime of vandalism, allowing them to secure bail and evade more stringent penalties.

“Many of them are arrested, but every time they are taken to the police, they are charged with theft, not vandalism, and are then released on bail. This undermines our efforts to curb this menace,” he stated.

Abdulaziz also pointed to the significant challenges faced by TCN in the restoration of key transmission lines, including the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna towers.

Due to escalating security concerns in the affected areas, TCN was forced to hire military escorts to protect contractors working on the lines.

“In some cases, the military even advised us that it was unsafe to proceed. How do we ensure electricity delivery to Nigerians under such hostile conditions? This is the grim reality we face daily,” he lamented.

In a related development, the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, revealed plans to address the power deficit in the country.

Speaking through his Chief Technical Adviser, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, Adelabu announced a partnership with the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide electricity to 50 million Nigerians by 2030.

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This project is part of a larger initiative aimed at extending electricity access to 300 million Africans.

“The project is being spearheaded by the World Bank and AfDB, with Nigeria set to benefit 50 million people. This is part of a broader plan to provide energy access to the underserved, using a combination of solar home systems, mini-grids, and grid extensions,” said Adelabu.

Despite these efforts, he acknowledged the significant financial and logistical challenges in extending the grid to all parts of Nigeria, admitting that not every area could be reached via traditional grid infrastructure.

“While grid extension will not be feasible everywhere, we are committed to finding innovative solutions to ensure that electricity reaches every Nigerian as part of the dividends of democracy,” Adelabu added.

The vandalism of transmission towers remains one of the most pressing issues facing Nigeria’s power sector.

Recent incidents include the destruction of key towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line and the collapse of multiple towers on the Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho lines.

These attacks have caused major disruptions to power transmission, leaving millions of Nigerians without consistent electricity supply.