Vandalism Disrupts Power Supply in Abuja: TCN Urges Vigilance
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) issued a statement on Wednesday, revealing that Tower 70 along its crucial 330kV Gwagwalada-Katampe line had been vandalized, posing a significant threat to power supply stability in the region.
According to TCN, the incident occurred on the night of February 26, 2024, at approximately 11:32 pm. The disruption resulted in the tripping of the Gwagwalada-Katampe Transmission line at Gwagwalada Transmission Substation. Despite attempts by TCN operators to restore power through reclosure, the efforts failed, prompting a physical patrol of the line.
During the inspection, TCN's lines and patrol team discovered that the footings of Tower 70 had been deliberately vandalized, causing the tower to collapse and rest on the ground, supported only by conductors. This act of sabotage has severely impacted the flexibility of bulk power supply and reduced the volume of power into Abuja by 250MW.
In response to the emergency, TCN has swiftly mobilized to the site and initiated repairs on the damaged tower and associated equipment. Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, TCN reiterated the importance of remaining vigilant against vandalism of power infrastructure. They urged the public to report any suspicious activities around power equipment to security agencies or the nearest TCN offices nationwide.
This latest incident adds to a series of attacks on power infrastructure in the region. Just last December, TCN reported a similar attack on its Gwagwalada-Kukwaba-Apo 132KV Transmission Line 1 in Abuja, underscoring the persistent threat posed by vandals to the stability of the power grid.
As authorities work to restore the affected transmission lines, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for collective efforts in safeguarding Nigeria's power infrastructure against malicious acts of vandalism.
