Stakeholders have called for the recapitalisation of the country’s 11 Distribution Companies (DisCos) with over $5.5 billion to avert the total collapse of the electricity sector amid the destruction of 119 power transmission towers in the last 10 months.
  
Also, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED) said over 80 transformers within its franchise areas were vandalised during the recent power outage when terrorists destroyed transmission lines in Niger State.
  
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has debunked reports that gunmen invaded the construction site of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) at Obajana in Kogi State, which led to the destruction of its 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer.
 
TCN also announced an increase in bulk power supply to more states in the North. The stakeholders, who gathered in Abuja at the fourth yearly workshop of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN), yesterday, said the sector was struggling with a double blow of extensive infrastructure vandalism and liquidity crises.
  
In 2024 alone, vandals destroyed 119 transmission towers, further weakening the nation’s power grid, which recorded eight collapses and 32,8000 megawatts of load loss.
  
Speaking at the workshop, Managing Director of Azura Power West Africa, Edu Okeke, advocated a $5.5 billion recapitalisation of the country’s DisCos, stressing the need for the companies to attract real capital investment to upgrade their ageing infrastructure.
  
Okeke explained that many DisCos operate with “negative equity,” limiting their ability to invest in the infrastructure necessary to deliver consistent power to consumers.  
  
He argued that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) should require each DisCo to hold at least $250 million in shareholder funds and urged for additional capitalisation of $500 million per company.
  
“This mandate would attract new investors, who could bring in real capital to upgrade transformers, cables and other critical infrastructure,” he said, estimating that $5.5 billion was required across the 11 DisCos.
  
According to him, the recapitalisation could include removing existing debts from the DisCos’ books to ease their financial burden, with current shareholders diluting their shares to attract fresh investors.  
  
This approach, Okeke argued, would stabilise the DisCos, enable them to cover their operational costs, and strengthen their ability to serve customers more reliably.  
  
General Manager of Material Control and Stores, Abdulkadir Adamu, stated that this year alone, vandals damaged both 330KV and 132KV lines across the country.  
  
Adamu said the incidents were creating severe disruptions and delaying the company’s efforts to improve the grid. In incidents that spread across the country, especially in the North, Enugu and Port Harcourt, Adamu said over 119 transmission towers had been destroyed this year alone.
  
Despite these setbacks, Adamu said TCN made strides in fortifying the transmission network by commissioning 41 new transformers in various regions, adding over 4,048.50 MVA in capacity to enhance reliability, with key projects focused on high-demand areas such as Lagos and Bauchi.
  
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, acknowledging the urgency of reform in the sector, noted that the government remained committed to practical solutions and sustainable policies that go beyond mere promises.

“Our citizens, industries and economy can no longer wait for promises; they demand results,” Adelabu said, stressing that stable power is essential for Nigeria’s economic resilience and growth.
  
National President of the Association for Public Policy Analysis, Princewill Okorie, called for greater accountability and transparency within the power sector, singling out the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) as an area of concern. 
  
Chairman of PCAN, Obas Esiedesa, acknowledged the significant efforts underway in the sector, including the proactive steps by various states through the Electricity Act, the planned unbundling of TCN, the move towards a bilateral trading market, and the introduction of new power plants. 

JED Chief Technical Officer (Operations), Hamisu Jigawa, with some reporters in their Jos office.  Jigawa stated that huge cables supplying power to some communities valued at millions of naira were also stolen during the period.
  
According to the official, the activities of the vandals affected the supply of power to communities, adding that aluminium conductors feeding some communities were also entirely vandalised.  He urged communities to be vigilant and protect the electrical assets, emphasising that vandalising them would continue to leave people in darkness.

SPEAKING to journalists, yesterday, in Lokoja, the Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP William Aya, described the report circulated by a section of the media as false, misleading and should be disregarded by the general public.
  
The police spokesperson said the report was the handiwork of mischief-makers, who were determined to create fear and tension among the people in Kogi. He urged media organisations to always verify their information from reliable sources before disseminating it to the public.
 
 “I called the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Obajana, and he was able to give me accurate information about what happened on Tuesday night about gunmen attacking the TCN facility in Obajana. It was transformer oil that generated heat and it started leaking. 
  
“There was no attack on the facility by gunmen. The public should disregard the information. It is fake news meant to cause tension and panic among the people.”
  
TCN, General Manager on Pubic Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, had said its 330/132/33kV transmission substation was attacked Tuesday night at Obajana. She stated that according to reports from security personnel at the site, the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, causing the guards to flee. During the attack, she claimed that a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer, already positioned on its plinth, was struck, resulting in a burst radiator.

THE improvement in bulk energy supply followed the successful energisation of the Ugwuaji–Makurdi–Jos 330KV Transmission Line 2. TCN shared the update in a statement signed by Mbah, yesterday, in Abuja.
 
As a result, Jos, Kaduna, Kano and Yola DisCos can now receive additional loads for further distribution to customers. The 330KV Ugwuaji–Apir transmission lines had been out of service since October 21, 2024 due to vandalism of the 330KV double circuit transmission Line 1 and 2 along the same route. Line 1 was repaired and restored earlier on October 30, 2024.