Pressure On National Grid As Vandals Damage 20 Towers


 

Pressure On National Grid As Vandals Damage 20 Towers



By

Joshua Bilkisu Swatkasah 


At least 20 electricity transmission towers have been vandalised across Nigeria between January and August 2026, putting additional pressure on the national grid and disrupting efforts to improve electricity supply. The Nigerian Independent System Operator says the electricity market is losing about eight billion naira monthly to transmission losses, with vandalism contributing significantly. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with some of the incidents, while one suspected vandal was killed when a transmission tower collapsed on him.


The latest incident occurred on August 8, when Tower 101 along the 330-kilovolt Ughelli-Benin transmission line in Delta State collapsed after critical structural members were removed. Other cases were recorded along the Yola-Jalingo, Apir-Lafia, Nkalagu-Abakaliki and Benin-Onitsha transmission lines, as well as at a transmission substation in Bauchi. The Transmission Company of Nigeria says vandalism is forcing it to divert funds meant for grid expansion and development into repairing damaged infrastructure, while some affected transmission lines remain out of service pending reconstruction.


The Managing Director of TCN, Sule Abdulaziz, described vandalism as one of the most persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s power sector, saying it is disrupting electricity supply, increasing operational costs and delaying infrastructure projects. He called for stronger collaboration among security agencies, host communities and government institutions, as well as tougher penalties for those who attack critical national infrastructure. Abdulaziz also raised concern over encroachment on transmission line Right-of-Way corridors, which he said creates safety risks and makes maintenance, emergency response and future expansion more difficult.


#NexviewTv#NexviewNews#NexviewUpdate#2026#BreakingNews#NationalGrid#20DamagedTowers#TCN#VandalisedGrid#4SuspectArrested#1Dead#Nigeria

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