The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that it has spent a significant amount of money—specifically N8.8 billion—on fixing and restoring transmission towers that have been damaged by vandals in different parts of the country during 2024.
This information was shared by Ahmed Abdulaziz, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), during a meeting focused on the power sector in Abuja.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Bolaji Tunji, who is the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power, mentioned that despite the government’s efforts, they have not been able to successfully prosecute those who have been arrested for vandalizing these towers. The reason for this is that many of these individuals are quickly released on bail by the Nigerian police after their arrest.
Abdulaziz, represented at the meeting by Engr. Olugbenga Ajiboye, who is the Executive Director of TCN Transmission Service Provider, reported that from January to November 2024, a total of 128 transmission towers have been either destroyed or damaged by vandals and armed groups across the country. He expressed concern that those who are caught vandalizing the towers are often released from custody, which allows them to return to their criminal activities and continue to harm important electrical infrastructure.
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He explained that when vandals are arrested and handed over to the police, they are usually charged with theft rather than vandalism. This is a crucial difference because if they were charged with vandalism, they would not be eligible for bail. Unfortunately, this means that many of the vandals are let go and can continue their destructive actions.
Abdulaziz highlighted the challenges faced by the TCN, mentioning a specific incident where the towers along the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna route were damaged. In order to repair these towers and restore the transmission lines, they had to arrange for military escorts to ensure the safety of their workers. Sometimes, they were only allowed to work for a couple of hours a day, and on other occasions, they were told that it was too dangerous to carry out any work at all.
He concluded by expressing frustration over these ongoing issues, asking how they can effectively provide electricity to Nigerians under such challenging and dangerous conditions. These problems are part of the broader difficulties facing the power sector in Nigeria.
