The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has reportedly suffered another attack, this time targeting three of its transmission towers. This fresh attack, according to the company, has caused significant disruption to the bulk power transmission along the affected route.
In a statement issued on Sunday, TCN revealed that the attack was discovered during a routine inspection of the towers to check for faults. It was during this inspection that engineers identified signs of vandalism on the towers, which led to the disruption of service.
The incident occurred in the early hours of November 9, 2024, when the transmission towers were severely damaged by unknown vandals. Three towers were affected in total, and the attack led to the loss of power along the line, impacting bulk power transmission in the region.
According to TCN, the vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor from line one of the affected towers, which further compounded the damage caused. The company assured the public that it is actively working to replace the stolen conductors and restore the affected transmission lines. However, TCN also expressed deep concern about the growing wave of vandalism that is targeting critical infrastructure in the sector.
In its statement, TCN condemned the rising trend of vandalism that is specifically targeting transmission lines and towers, stating that it is significantly hindering efforts to expand and stabilize the national grid. This latest attack is seen as another setback in the ongoing struggle to improve Nigeria's power supply and infrastructure.
The company explained that on the morning of November 9, its engineers had attempted to re-energize the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line 1. Unfortunately, the line tripped shortly after being energized, and all attempts to reclose it failed. This prompted TCN to send out a patrol team of linesmen to inspect the route for any faults. It was during this inspection that they discovered the vandalism on towers T306, T307, and T308, which resulted in a halt to the bulk power transmission along that line.
TCN further detailed that following the discovery, the engineers found that two spans of the aluminium conductor from line one had been stolen by the vandals. Fortunately, the Lokoja–Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, which means that bulk power is still being supplied through line two. However, efforts are now underway to source replacement aluminium conductors for the two spans that were stolen from line one.
In light of this incident, TCN has made an appeal to members of the public, especially those living in communities that host transmission lines and towers. The company is urging these residents to cooperate with TCN and the relevant security agencies in order to combat the ongoing menace of vandalism that continues to undermine the country’s power infrastructure.
