Nigeria’s power sector under threat, as vandals feast on infrastructure

…TCN records 42 cases of vandalism in 6 months

Vandalisation of infrastructure has remained a recurring issue of concern in the Nigerian power sector, as it impedes the effort of the government in ensuring adequate power supply across the country.

According to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), there had been 42 cases of infrastructure vandalism in the first six months of 2025, while a total of 86 towers were vandalised in 2024.

Ali Sharifai, general manager, Transmission Service, TCN, disclosed this in a media workshop for energy correspondents in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, a total of 178 towers have been vandalised since the beginning of the year, leading to the disruption of power supply, as the generated power from the generation station cannot be wheeled to the distribution ends.

He explained that the nation’s grid expansion efforts are hindered by acts of vandalism, as monies to pay contractors’ invoices are used on repairs. “TCN incurs significant costs due to repair, replacement and the need for increased security measures to address vandalism.

“Year 2024 and 2025 have been the most trying times for TCN as a responsive public utility due to vandalisation of its transmission line infrastructure by non-state actors. A total of 86 towers were vandalised in 2024, with 26 towers completely down, which left the affected states in total darkness.

“This vandalism spans across Abuja, Bauchi, Enugu, Shiroro, Kano and Port Harcourt regions while in the first and the second quarters of 2025 alone, a total of 42 acts of vandalism were recorded affecting a total of 178 towers,” Sharifai said.

He explained that in the Abuja region, 4 acts of vandalism were recorded in 2025, with 11 towers affected. While the Enugu region recorded two acts of vandalism with 16 towers affected, the Kano region recorded 8 acts of vandalism with 29 towers affected, and the Lagos region recorded 5 acts of vandalism with 9 towers affected.

In the Osogbo region, 2 acts of vandalism were recorded, with 3 towers affected. The Port Harcourt region recorded 17 acts of vandalism, with 72 towers affected. He added that the Shiroro region recorded 2 acts of vandalism with 3 towers affected, while the Kaduna region recorded 2 acts of vandalism with 35 towers affected.

He decried that vandalism around the Abuja axis is purely political, adding that critical lines that supply Abuja and environs are vandalised excessively with a view to putting the Federal Capital in total darkness. “Shiroro-Katampe and Ajaokuta-Gwagwalada 330kV lines and 132kV underground line cable at the Central Area were vandalised, with their effect of putting the FCT to nearly total blackout.

“In areas like North-East and South-South part of the country, sabotage is the main reason for vandalising of TCN towers as a result of insurgency and youth restiveness. But in areas like PortHarcourt, a combination of sabotage and economic reasons may not be ruled out.

“The scrap market is growing across some parts of the country. There are ready-made scrap markets where carted away materials are sold and recycled. Vandalism recorded in places like Kano and Makurdi axis are mostly economic,” he said.

Sharifai also noted that besides the activities of vandals, natural disaster hinders the free flow of electricity of electricity to the grid, adding that the TCN recently recorded along Kainji-Birnin Kebbi 330Kv SC (international) line, where six towers T306, T307, T308, T365, T366 and T367 collapsed in May 2025 due to windstorm and torrential rainfall.