A disturbing trend of vandalism has hit Nigeria’s power infrastructure, with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) revealing that 178 transmission towers were destroyed by vandals in the first half of 2025. This alarming surge has worsened power outages across several states, leaving millions without access to reliable electricity.
The TCN’s General Manager, Transmission Services, Ali Sharifai, described the situation as one of the most challenging periods in the company’s history. During a media briefing in Keffi, Sharifai disclosed that the agency recorded 42 separate cases of vandalism within the first two quarters of the year, targeting towers critical to electricity distribution. States like Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, and Kano have been particularly affected, with Sharifai noting that the 2024 precedent of 86 targeted towers – 26 of which were completely brought down – has been surpassed by this year’s more troubling figures.
Natural disasters have compounded the problem, with a severe windstorm in May taking down six towers along the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi line and another incident leading to the partial collapse of a tower on the Apir-Lafia-Jos axis. Sharifai emphasized that these acts not only strain the power supply but also come with enormous repair costs, hindering efforts to expand the national grid. According to him, the attacks are driven by a mix of motives, including economic hardship, political sabotage, and sometimes pure criminality.
In response to the crisis, the TCN is working closely with the office of the National Security Adviser to protect vulnerable lines. The company has reached out to the ONSA for protection against vandalism, with some critical lines selected as pilot schemes for state-of-the-art technology to monitor and deter future vandalism. Additionally, sensitization and sponsored programs, including jingles on social and print media, radio, and television stations, are being used to raise awareness about the importance of protecting TCN assets. As Sharifai noted, Nigerians are now being informed that TCN property is, in fact, their property, highlighting the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding the nation’s power infrastructure.
