The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has called on communities hosting transmission infrastructure to support efforts to protect power towers from vandalism, citing the significant economic setbacks caused by such activities.
TCN Appeals for Community Support
TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, made this appeal during a sensitization visit to Leleyi Gbari in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday. She emphasized that vandalism of power infrastructure not only incurs heavy repair costs but also disrupts electricity supply, affecting businesses, schools, hospitals, and homes nationwide.
> “Each incident of vandalism delays our progress, affecting businesses, schools, hospitals, and homes. The consequences are far-reaching, impacting not only the affected communities but also the entire nation.”
Mbah urged host communities to take ownership of power installations and report suspicious activities to the authorities, stressing that safeguarding these facilities is a collective responsibility.
Rising Cases of Vandalism in Gwagwalada Sub-region
Speaking at the event, Engr. Ishmaila Doguwa, Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Gwagwalada Sub-region, revealed that since 2020, the area has witnessed frequent acts of vandalism, sometimes occurring twice a month.
While security efforts have reduced the frequency of attacks, recent incidents still pose a major challenge.
> “Recently, the lines bringing supply from Lokoja to Gwagwalada were vandalized in December. We repaired them, but less than six hours later, the lines were attacked again, and some of the cables were stolen. As I speak, we are still trying to fix the lines.”
Leleyi Gbari Community Demands Electricity in Exchange for Protection
In response, residents of Leleyi Gbari appealed to the Federal Government to extend power supply to their village as compensation for their role in protecting power towers.
The Village Head, Yunus Sarki, lamented that despite hosting several power towers, the community has never had access to electricity.
> “We live in darkness. When the towers were being built years ago, we were told the power was too high and could burn the village down. We have endured, but it is unfair that we continue to protect these towers while lacking electricity ourselves.”
Sarki urged the government to fulfill its obligations and connect the village to the national grid, emphasizing that such a move would further motivate residents to safeguard transmission infrastructure.
Government and Community Collaboration Key to Power Sector Stability
TCN’s engagement with Leleyi Gbari underscores the importance of community collaboration in curbing vandalism. However, the demand for electricity in exchange for protection highlights the broader issue of equitable energy distribution, which remains a press
ing concern for many rural communities.
