The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has confirmed that six transmission towers along the Apir–Lafia 330kV line in Nasarawa State were vandalised, leaving key sections of the transmission network out of service and affecting electricity distribution in several areas.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, the incident occurred in the early hours of May 30 during heavy rainfall. The affected line reportedly experienced a fault at about 1:15 a.m., prompting operators to initiate efforts to restore service.
TCN said a trial reclosure of one of the transmission lines was carried out shortly after 2:00 a.m., but the attempt failed, raising concerns about possible damage along the corridor.
A subsequent inspection by technical teams revealed extensive destruction to critical components on towers T125 to T130. The company said investigations confirmed that the structures had been deliberately vandalised.
As a result, both circuits of the Apir–Lafia 330kV transmission route remain unavailable while reconstruction work is being planned and executed.
The company disclosed that engineers have already been deployed to assess the damage and determine the materials required to rebuild the affected towers and restore normal operations.
To minimise the impact on consumers, TCN said the Lafia 330kV Transmission Station is temporarily receiving power through the Lafia–Jos transmission line, a contingency arrangement aimed at supporting customers served by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC).
The transmission operator also expressed concern over repeated attacks on power infrastructure, warning that such acts jeopardise investments in the electricity sector and weaken the stability of the national grid.
TCN called on residents of host communities and the general public to help safeguard transmission facilities by reporting suspicious activities to security agencies or the nearest company office
The company stressed that protecting critical electricity infrastructure requires cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure a more reliable power supply across the country.
Goodness Anunobi
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