The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a surge in vandalism of power infrastructure since the beginning of the year 2025.

TCN, in a statement on Sunday by its General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, lamented that over 18 transmission towers were vandalized between January 9 and 14, 2025, across Rivers, Abia, and Kano States.

The company quoted Engr. Emmanuel Okpa, General Manager of Transmission for the Port Harcourt Region, to have reported that routine patrols by linesmen on January 10, 2025, uncovered damage to towers 171 through 181 and tower 184.

It further disclosed that on January 14, vandals targeted towers 146, 147, and 149 along the Owerri/Ahoada 132kV line in Rivers State, removing base brackets and compromising the stability of the towers.

It said in Abia State, Engr. Azuh Lucky, Head of the Lines Department for the Region, reported the theft of bolts, nuts, and structural members from towers 160 to 162 on the Alaoji/Umuahia 132kV line, which was under repair on January 13, 2025.

While, in Kano, towers 105, 106, and 107 along the Katsina-Gazoua 132/33kV transmission line were critically damaged by vandals on January 9, 2025, compromising their structural integrity and risking collapse.

TCN said in the early hours of January 17, 2025, vandalized 132kV underground transmission cables were discovered by its engineers near Millennium Park in Abuja, which affected power supply to the central area and its environs.

It said that “These incidents pose a significant challenge to our operations as a company.

The Company said it has bolstered security measures, increased lines patrol, and the number of vigilante groups, and is also collaborating with security operatives.

It however called for the full support of every Nigerian, particularly those in communities hosting our installations stressing the need to collectively recognize that the transmission network is a collective asset and essential for socioeconomic development.

TCN added that yhe vandals and those who buy stolen materials are sabotaging the nation, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure the growth of the nation’s power sector, which is critical to the development of the country as TCN’s grid expansion plans are under tremendous strain due to the persistent vandalism of its installations.

It stated that the financial implications of constant repairs to vandalized transmission installations, along with the stress on the grid, are having adverse effects on TCNs grid expansion drive.