Vandals Destroy Lokoja-FCT Transmission Line, Disrupt Bulk Power Supply

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported a fresh attack on its 330kV Lokoja –Gwagwalada transmission line 1, disrupting bulk power supply to the area.

The company said the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024, with the vandals damaging transmission towers T306, T307, and T308.

The company expressed concern over the increasing trend of vandalism, targeting transmission lines and towers, which is severely impacting the country’s power infrastructure.

Vandalism of electricity infrastructure in Nigeria has escalated, severely impacting power supply and economic development. Recent incidents include the destruction of the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri transmission line by suspected Boko Haram members, leading to blackouts in Borno and Yobe states just months after repairs.

Additionally, 13 towers on the Ahoada-Yenagoa line were vandalised, prompting urgent calls for government and community action to combat this growing threat. The TCN reported over 63 towers vandalised in 2024 alone, costing billions in repairs and hindering efforts to stabilise electricity supply.

A statement signed and released by the TCN general manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, on Sunday, read: “The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby reports that vandals have once again attacked its 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024.

“Early on Saturday, TCN engineers attempted to re-energise the 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one, but the line tripped.

“After efforts to reclose the line failed, a patrol team of TCN linesmen was dispatched to trace the line for faults. Upon inspection, they discovered that transmission towers T306, T307 and T308 along line one had been vandalised, disrupting bulk power transmission along the route.”

The company added that two spans of aluminium conductors from the line were stolen, with efforts underway to replace them.

“Further examination revealed that 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.

“The growing trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers has become a serious challenge, severely impacting 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 December 10, 2023, the Gwagwalada–Katampe line on February 26, 2024, and several others in that axis. Such acts of vandalism continue to disrupt the stability and growth of Nigeria’s national grid,” the statement read.

The company further appealed to members of host communities to work with TCN and security operatives to combat this threat, saying, “We once again appeal 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.

“Vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system,” it added.