The Transmission Company of Nigeria has reported that vandals have again attacked its 330kv Lokoja โ Gwagwalada transmission line 1.
A statement issued on Sunday by the General Manager, Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, stated that the vandals struck in the early hours of Saturday, November 9, 2024.
A copy of the statement obtained by Arewa PUNCH read in parts, โEarly on Saturday, TCN engineers attempted to re-energise the 330kv LokojaโGwagwalada transmission line 1, but the line tripped. After efforts to reclose the line failed, patrol team of TCN linesmen was dispatched to physically trace the line for faults.
โUpon inspection, they discovered that transmission towers T306, T307, and T308 along line 1 had been vandalised, disrupting bulk power transmission along the route.
โFurther examination revealed that the vandals had stolen two spans of aluminium conductor from line one.โ
Mbah noted further that โThe LokojaโGwagwalada line is a double-circuit transmission line, and while TCN is still supplying bulk power through line two, efforts are underway to source replacement aluminium conductors for the two spans stolen from line one.
โThe rising trend of vandalism targeting transmission lines and towers has become a significant challenge, severely impacting the countryโs power infrastructure and hindering the expansion and stability of the national grid.โ
He stressed that, โThis recent incident adds to an alarming pattern of attacks on the transmission network nationwide. In the Gwagwalada area alone, recent acts of vandalism include the attack on the GwagwaladaโKukuwabaโApo transmission line on December 10, 2023, the GwagwaladaโKatampe line on February 26, 2024, and several others on that axis.
โSuch acts of vandalism continue to disrupt the stability and growth of Nigeriaโs national grid.
ย โWe once again appeal to members of the public, especially residents of communities hosting transmission lines and towers, to collaborate with TCN and security operatives in combating this menace. Vandalism of power installations is a disservice to us all and undermines efforts to strengthen the nationโs transmission system,โ he pointed out.
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