TCN Raises Alarm After Vandals Destroy 14 Tower Spans in Niger

The Transmission Company of Nigeria has raised concern over rising vandalism of power infrastructure in Niger State after vandals destroyed about 14 spans of conductors on a 132kV transmission line.

The affected line is in the Lambata axis of Gurara Local Government Area. TCN officials raised the alarm during a security and community engagement meeting held in Lambata on Monday.

Musa Shuaibu, General Manager, Transmission, Abuja Region, said the damage would cost about N32 million to restore directly within the region, warning that contract costs could be higher.

Shuaibu said the line has been in existence for close to four decades and was designed to move electricity from the Shiroro axis through Minna, Bida and Suleja to the Federal Capital Territory.

TCN described the attacks as economic sabotage because they threaten power supply, public safety, businesses and industrial activity. The company said repeated vandalism of transmission assets now requires a community-wide response.

The meeting involved traditional and community leaders, local vigilantes and security agencies, including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and road-safety officials.

TCN urged residents to report suspicious activity around transmission lines, saying security agencies alone cannot protect the network without support from host communities.

The company warned that every attack on transmission infrastructure creates wider costs for electricity consumers, businesses and public services that depend on stable power supply.

TCN said the Lambata case is different from older vandalism incidents in other states because this line directly affects power evacuation through parts of Niger and the FCT corridor. It asked community leaders to treat the equipment as shared public infrastructure, not as abandoned metal.

Sources: Leadership, WuzupNigeria, NewsclickNG, InsideBusiness