TCN Warns Vandals as Niger State Line Suffers 14-span Attack

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has issued a condemned the destruction of 14 spans of its 132-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line in the Lambata axis of Gurara Local Government Area, Niger State, describing the incident as a deliberate act of economic sabotage that threatens electricity supply, public safety and industrial growth in the state.

Speaking at a security and community engagement meeting held in Lambata on Monday, general manager, Transmission, Abuja Region of TCN, Musa Shuaibu, said the company had been forced to seek the assistance of traditional rulers, vigilante groups and security agencies following a series of repeated attacks on transmission infrastructure in the area.

According to Shuaibu, the vandalised line, which was constructed during the administration of former President Shehu Shagari more than four decades ago, was originally designed to wheel electricity from the Shiroro axis through Minna, Bida and Suleja to the Federal Capital Territory. He noted that the line had served as one of the earliest high-voltage infrastructures that supported power supply to the nation’s capital and surrounding communities.

He said that the line had operated for decades without major interference until recently when criminals began targeting its conductors for scrap.

“These lines have been in existence for close to 40 years,” Shuaibu told participants. “When they were constructed, nobody ever imagined that people would one day wake up and decide to vandalise them. But suddenly, some individuals have taken it upon themselves to cut these conductors and sell them for little amounts of money.”

Shuaibu said that the company had become deeply worried by the recurring incidents, noting that such widespread vandalism had not previously been recorded in that particular part of Niger State.
“We have been having issues with our transmission lines,” he said. “Transmission lines have been vandalised repeatedly. It has never happened before in Niger State. We used to hear it. It does happen in Niger State, but not in this area—not in this particular area. And it has become worrisome to all of us.”
The TCN official lamented that the destruction of transmission facilities was depriving the company of resources that could have been invested in improving electricity infrastructure and supporting host communities.

He disclosed that the 14 vandalised spans would cost the company approximately N32 million to restore if the work was undertaken directly within the region, and warned that the cost could be significantly higher if the repair work was awarded as a contract.

“We have about 14 spans of this conductor vandalised,” Shuaibu said. “If we are to restore them directly within the region, our calculations indicate it will cost us about N32 million. If the work is eventually awarded as a contract, the cost may become much higher. This is money that should have been used to improve facilities and strengthen the power supply. Instead, we are diverting scarce resources to repair damage caused by some individuals out of sheer wickedness.”

Shuaibu stressed that the consequences of vandalism extended far beyond financial losses, warning that a disruption to the electricity supply could seriously affect hospitals, businesses and households.
“By the time these lines are cut and supply goes off, your wife, your brother, your sister or even someone in the hospital who needs electricity for medical procedures may be affected,” he said.

He also drew attention to the safety implications of damaged high-voltage lines, explaining that residual voltage on fallen conductors could cause fatalities among people and animals.

“When these lines are vandalised, there can still be residual voltage on the conductors,” Shuaibu said.

“Farmers working around the area may unknowingly come into contact with them. We have seen situations where animals die after coming close to such installations. We do not pray for human casualties. That is why everyone must take this issue seriously.”

The TCN official further noted that the vandalised infrastructure directly supplied power to distribution companies, and that without the line, electricity could not be passed to end-users.

“It is these transmission lines that supply the distribution companies before electricity gets to consumers,” he said. “We don’t deal directly with customers, but we supply the AEDC. If the line is not available, how do we give them power to distribute?”

Shuaibu linked the development to broader economic implications, warning that the destruction of transmission assets could impede the operations of the Niger State Electricity Commission and discourage industrial investment in the state.

“If these lines are not there, how will the commission function effectively?” he queried. “Potential investors may refuse to establish industries in the state because of inadequate infrastructure. The government stands to lose revenue. Industries that should create jobs and contribute taxes may not come because the enabling infrastructure has been compromised.”

On the issue of law enforcement, Shuaibu disclosed that several suspects arrested in connection with attacks on transmission facilities in the Federal Capital Territory were already facing prosecution, and that the penalties for such offences were severe.

“People should understand that once they are caught, their lives may be permanently altered because the law is taking these offences seriously,” he warned.

He revealed that 19 suspects arrested for allegedly vandalising electricity infrastructure within the Abuja Region were currently being held at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of their trial.

“Right now, as I am speaking with you, we have 19 suspects presently in Kuje who were caught vandalising TCN property,” Shuaibu said. “The law applies everywhere in our region. We have been informed that the punishment is very severe and there is no option of a fine. Anybody caught engaging in this act should know that it could ruin his future completely.”

He appealed to residents to report suspicious activity around transmission corridors and promised that communities that helped expose vandals would be recognised with a token of appreciation.

“If any community helps us identify those vandalising these facilities and they are apprehended and prosecuted, we are going to give a token of appreciation to that community,” he said.

“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps cannot do it alone. TCN staff cannot do it alone. We need collective responsibility,” Shuaibu added.

In his remarks, the District Head of Izom in Gurara Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Salihu, pledged the support of traditional institutions in tackling the menace.

“We are going to inform our people to be vigilant,” Salihu said. “They should keep watch over government property and immediately report any suspicious activity to the police, civil defence or vigilante groups.”

He also said that the vigilantes required more support because mobility was essential for effective monitoring.

“The vigilantes also require support because mobility is important,” he said. “Monitoring these facilities across long distances without adequate logistics is difficult.”

Salihu called on TCN to strengthen monitoring of its right-of-way corridors to discourage encroachment and reduce opportunities for criminal activities.

The community engagement formed part of TCN’s renewed efforts to safeguard electricity infrastructure through partnerships with host communities and security agencies. The company said a similar sensitisation exercise conducted in another community several years ago had yielded positive results and expressed optimism that the latest intervention would help curb the growing threat of vandalism in Niger State.

Power sector stakeholders have repeatedly identified vandalism as one of the major threats to Nigeria’s electricity supply chain. Apart from disrupting power transmission, attacks on transmission towers and conductors impose huge replacement costs on utilities and often prolong outages affecting homes, businesses and critical public institutions.

Transmission lines serve as the backbone of electricity delivery, transporting bulk power generated at power plants to distribution companies for onward supply to end users.

Also speaking at the meeting, ASP Galadima Edward, representing the Divisional Police Officer, described transmission facilities as critical national assets that required urgent protection.

“Vandalism of transmission towers and cables has become a recurring problem in the Lambata axis and Gurara communities,” Edward said. “The police have the responsibility to arrest, investigate and prosecute anyone found vandalising or purchasing stolen transmission materials. We also rely on intelligence gathering through informants and community contacts to identify those involved and the scrap dealers handling these stolen items.”

Edward urged communities to collaborate closely with security agencies.

“These installations belong to all Nigerians,” he said. “There is a need for community leaders, security agencies and TCN management to work hand in hand to protect them. Protecting transmission infrastructure is protecting our national economy. We must work together to achieve that goal.”