BY AKUDORO GLORIA
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed vandals attack on its 330kV Lokoja – Gwagwalada transmission line 1, in the early hours of Saturday 9th November 2024.
This development came 10 days after TCN announced full restoration of power supply through the Gombe-Damaturu 330KV transmission line which was attacked by vandalized on September 22, 2024. The vandalized tower 372 was rebuilt and the stringing of the line was completed on 23rd October, 2024.
In a statement released on Sunday, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, revealed that early on Saturday, the engineers attempted to re-energize the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line 1, but the line tripped.
“After efforts to reclose the line failed, a patrol team of TCN linesmen was dispatched to physically trace the line for faults. Upon inspection, they discovered that transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 along line 1 had been vandalized, disrupting bulk power transmission along the route.
“Further examination revealed that the vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor from line one. The Lokoja–Gwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, and while TCN is still supplying bulk power through line two, efforts are underway to source replacement aluminium conductors for the two spans stolen from line one,” said the GM.
Mrs. Mbah described the rising trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers as significant challenge, which severely impacts the country’s power infrastructure and hindering the expansion and stability of the national grid.
“This recent incident adds to an alarming pattern of attacks on the transmission network nationwide. In the Gwagwalada area alone, recent acts of vandalism include the attack on the Gwagwalada–Kukuwaba–Apo transmission line on 10th December 2023, the Gwagwalada–Katampe line on February 26, 2024, and several others on that axis. Such acts of vandalism continue to disrupt the stability and growth of Nigeria’s national grid,” she stated.
The General Manager appealed to members of the public, especially residents of communities hosting transmission lines and towers, to collaborate with TCN and security operatives in combating this menace.
According to the statement, vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system.