The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) yesterday in Abuja said 330kV Lokoja-Gwagwalada transmission line one has been attacked by vandals with critical infrastructure stolen.

The incident, according to TCN General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mba, occurred in the early hours of Saturday. The development, which resorted in interruptions in bulk power transmission between Lokoja and Gwagwalada, saw TCN engineers attempting to re-energize the affected transmission line on Saturday morning. Upon inspection, TCN discovered transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 had been vandalised, and two spans of aluminum conductors stolen.

Although TCN said the organisation is still able to transmit power through a secondary circuit on the double-circuit Lokoja-Gwagwalada line, the vandalism has placed additional strain on Nigeria’s already fragile power infrastructure. Mbah noted that efforts are underway to source replacement aluminum conductors for the stolen spans and to repair the damaged towers to restore the line’s full transmission capacity.

With the grid collapsing more frequently, the latest attack adds to a growing list of incidents targeting Nigeria’s transmission network, especially in the Gwagwalada region.

Past vandalism in the area includes an attack on the Gwagwalada-Kukuwaba-Apo transmission line in December 2023, as well as damage to the Gwagwalada-Katampe line in February 2024. These recurring acts of vandalism have severely impacted the stability and reliability of Nigeria’s national grid, posing significant challenges to the country’s power infrastructure.

Mba appealed to the public, urging residents in communities near transmission lines to cooperate with authorities in preventing further vandalism.

“Vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nation’s transmission system,” Mbah stated, emphasising that community vigilance and cooperation with security operatives are crucial in tackling the ongoing issue.