The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has revealed that it spent N8.8 billion to repair 128 vandalized electric towers nationwide from January to November 2024.
This was disclosed by the Managing Director of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, in a recent quarterly power sector working group meeting held in Abuja.
Represented by the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider, TCN, Olugbenga Ajiboye, Abdulaziz decried the vandalization of the facilities.
He stressed that 128 transmission towers have been destroyed either by vandals or bandits across the country. And this occurred between January and November 2024.
Abadulaziz, while noting that the vandals were apprehended and handed over to the police for prosecution, regretted that they were bailed based on theft, and not vandalism.
He said, “As I talk to you today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits. To date, we have spent about N8.8 billion, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use.”
“It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to the police for prosecution, the police would arrest them for theft instead of vandalism, and they would be bailed.”
Recall that the national grid has suffered incessant vandalization in the recent months. Consequent upon which the grid has continually collapsed and the nation thrown in to darkness for days.
The most affected is the northern part of the country where the Northeast region. The region was without electricity for months due to vandalization of the towers by criminals.
Last week, parts of the Niger Delta region suffered power outage due to activities of vandals.
The vandals disrupted the ongoing repair of the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132 kilovolt line. They also stole tower components from Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho 330kv transmission lines.
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
