The Federal Government, via the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has invested ₦29.3 billion to repair 266 electricity towers vandalized across the country, according to recent TCN data. These incidents, occurring from January 2022 to October 2024, have severely impacted power availability nationwide.
The latest Africa Trade Barometer report indicates Nigeria loses about $26 billion annually due to power failures. The vandalism, affecting regions including Abuja, Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, has necessitated TCN to outsource repairs while utilizing in-house engineers for others.
Experts estimate the cost to repair each tower at approximately ₦110 million. In 2022, 90 towers were damaged; this number rose to 111 in 2023, with 65 incidents reported so far in 2024.
Notable incidents include the destruction of multiple towers on key transmission lines. The ongoing vandalism undermines improvements in power generation, posing significant challenges to ensuring a stable electricity supply.
Professor Wumi Iledare emphasized the severe economic implications of such vandalism, which not only disrupts power but also deters investment and raises energy costs. He urged the government to take stronger action against offenders.
In response to the vandalism impacting the Shiroro-Kaduna line, TCN is working with the Office of the National Security Adviser to restore power to major northern cities. They clarified that current outages are due to vandalism and not an indefinite power outage.
