As Nigeria struggles to stabilize its erratic power supply, a pervasive menace has emerged, threatening to derail government efforts: the rampant vandalism of power infrastructure. In recent years, the country has witnessed a disturbing surge in these destructive acts, compromising the integrity of the national grid and inflicting billions of naira in damages, further exacerbating the nation's electricity woes.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), tasked with transmitting generated electricity from Generation Companies to Distribution Companies, has borne the brunt of these attacks. In a staggering testament to the severity of the problem, the TCN spent over N8 billion between January and November last year to repair transmission towers vandalized across the country. A total of 128 towers were destroyed by vandals and bandits, plunging vast swathes of the nation into darkness and disrupting the already fragile power supply.
In 2025, the scourge of vandalism has persisted, with alarming frequency. Just between January 9 and 14, no fewer than 18 transmission towers were vandalized across Rivers, Abia, and Kano states. This latest spate of destruction comes on the heels of the TCN's recent efforts to restore electricity to parts of Northern Nigeria and Bayelsa State, which had been plunged into darkness for months following the destruction of transmission towers and lines.
Similarly, the audacity of these vandals knows no bounds, as they have even targeted the nation's capital, Abuja. In a brazen attack, they struck at the heart of the city, removing a 132kV underground cable and plunging key areas into darkness, including the Central Area, parts of the Presidential Villa, Asokokoro, Wuse, Jabi, and surrounding neighbourhood.
However, in its quest to guarantee stable and uninterrupted power supply, TCN has rolled out a multifaceted strategy to combat vandalism. The company has enlisted the services of local vigilantes, fostered partnerships with security agencies, and launched public awareness campaigns through radio and TV jingles, urging citizens to protect power infrastructure.
Recently, TCN took its advocacy a step further by organizing a one-day sensitization campaign on Tuesday February 4, 2025 in Daku community, Gurara local government area, Niger State. This initiative aimed to educate locals about the dangers posed by vandalism and encourage community-led protection of power assets.
The programme, spearheaded by the Abuja Region of TCN, represents a pivotal component of the company's comprehensive strategy to cultivate collaborative relationships among local communities, influential leaders, and stakeholders. By instilling a sense of ownership and shared responsibility, TCN aims to effectively mitigate the risk of vandalism and ensure a stable, reliable power supply that underpins the nation's economic growth and development.
Speaking at the event, the General Manager, Transmission, Engr. Musa Shuiabu, emphasized the imperative of sensitization in the face of relentless vandalism of electricity infrastructure in the area. He urged locals to take ownership and safeguard the nation's power infrastructure, stressing that its protection benefits not only the government but also the citizens themselves, as they are the ultimate recipients of the electricity supply.
He made a passionate appeal to community leaders and members to adopt a sense of proprietorship over the electricity power infrastructure, recognizing it as a vital component of their collective assets. The GM maintained that monitoring and reporting any suspicious activities around power infrastructure, the locals would not only be protecting a valuable resource but also contributing to the overall well-being and development of the country.
Addressing the people in their Hausa local dialect on behalf of the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, Mr. Billy Akau made a heartfelt appeal, urging them to join forces in combating vandalism in their area. Akau emphasized that it's a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of every responsible Nigerian to effectively eradicate vandalism.
Danladi Yahaya, the village head of Daku community, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to TCN for the visit, which he said would significantly boost the community's morale and motivation to work. He pledged the community's support to TCN's efforts in protecting the power infrastructure, highlighting the importance of collaboration between local vigilantes and security agencies in safeguarding these critical assets.
Also, the head and commander of the local vigilante group in Gurara LGA, Mr. Chidawa Simon, reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with relevant authorities to combat vandalism. He emphasized that the repercussions of vandalism are far-reaching, impacting the entire Gurara local government and disrupting the daily lives of residents, who rely on electricity to power essential appliances like grinding machines.
While assuring that his team will intensify efforts to combat vandalism, he appealed to the government for support by providing approved weapons to the local vigilante group to enable them to effectively carry out their duties.
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