The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has decried the increasing spate of vandalism in Nigeria, with the total of 178 transmission towers vandalised since the beginning of this year(2025).
TCN General Manager, TS CHQ, Abuja, Engr. Ali Sharifai, who disclosed this on Thursday in a Presentation at the Three-Day TCN Media Workshop for Energy Correspondents, held in Keffi, Nassarawa State, said a total of 42 act of vandalism were recorded affecting a total of 178 towers in the first and second quarters of 2025.
TheFact Daily reports that TCN spent approximately N9 billion to repair 86 vandalised towers in 2024.
Speaking, Engr. Sharifai said “years 2024 and 2025 have been the most trying time for TCN as a responsive public utility due to vandalisation of its transmission line infrastructure by the non-state actors.
“A total of Eighty-Six (86) towers were vandalised in 2024 with Twenty-Six (26) towers completely down, which put affected states in total darkness. These vandalism span across Abuja, Bauchi, Enugu, Shiroro, Kano and Port-Harcourt Regions.
“While in the first and second quarters of 2025 alone, a total of Forty-Two (42) act of vandalism were recorded affecting a total of 178 towers,” he said.
Sharifai said beside the activities of vandals, natural disaster too hinders the free flow of electricity to the grid as TCN recently recorded along Kainji-Birnin Kebbi 330kV SC (International) Line, where 6No. Towers: T306, T307, T365, T366 and T367 collapsed in May, 2025 due to wind-storm and torrential rainfall.
He added that in the same May, 2025 Apir-Laf-Jos 330kV DC Line Tower T137 had a twist (partial collapse) due to wind-storm and torrential rainfall.
The TCN GM listed other factors to include sabotage, Politics and economic challenges in the country; disclosing that there are ready-made scraps markets where carted alway materials are sold and recycled.
According to him, vandalism leads to disruption of power supply across the value chain, as the generated power from generation stations cannot be wheeled to the distribution ends.
He also noted that TCN grid expansion efforts are hindered by the act of vandalism as monies to pay contractors’ invoices are used on repairs.
Sharifai, however, affirmed that TCN is working the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for the protection of vulnerable transmission lines against vandalism.
Adding some critical lines have been selected as pilot scheme that state of the art technology would be deployed to monitor and deter future vandalism.
