TCN: 60% of power supply to Abuja affected as vandals attack transmission line

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says electricity lines supplying power to various parts of Abuja have again been attacked, stolen and damaged by vandals.

Ndidi Mbah, public affairs manager of TCN, in a statement on Friday, said the incident occurred in the early hours of the day.

The development comes less than one month after vandals attacked, stole and damaged TCN’s 330 kilovolts (kV) Shiroro-Katampe transmission line.

Mbah said the latest attack by the vandals was on the 132-kV transmission line and underground cable transmitting bulk power to the 132-kV Central Area transmission substation, Katampe, in the Central Area of Abuja.

She also said the incident impacted eight distribution feeders serving the Central Area.

“The incident, which was carried out around the Millennium Park axis of Abuja, has affected over 60% of the power supply to Abuja as the vandals carted away 40 meters of 1x500mm² XLPE conductors on the 2 numbers 132kV transmission lines,” the statement reads.

“Consequently, areas experiencing power outages include Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of Presidential Villa.”

Mbah said the company’s engineers have already been mobilised to the site of the incident to repair the vandalised cables.

“We enjoin Nigerians to be vigilant in observing and reporting suspicious activities to security operatives,” TCN said. 

“We must work together to protect our transmission equipment and installations. This is very crucial to the development of the nation’s power sector.”

In November 2024, TCN announced that its 330-kilovolt (kV) in Lokoja – Gwagwalada transmission line 1 had been attacked and destroyed by vandals.