Electricity supply across Nigeria has been facing many problems in recent weeks, and things have gotten worse due to fresh attacks on power transmission lines by vandals.
Recently, vandals destroyed 31 transmission towers in Okada and Ofosu communities. These towers are part of the 330kV Benin-Egbin and Benin-Omotosho transmission lines. This attack adds to the ongoing challenges that the country’s power supply has been facing.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that the damaged towers had lost important parts. The damage was discovered during a routine check in early November. TCN engineers are already working to repair the towers and prevent more problems with the power grid. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s spokesperson, said repairs have started to avoid further disruptions to electricity supply in the affected regions.
But this is not the only problem. Vandals also attacked the TCN Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line, stealing a third of the conductor. This line was being repaired after an earlier attack in August, which had already caused power outages in Bayelsa State. Now, the repairs are delayed, and the area will continue to face power cuts.
The damage to these transmission towers has also cost the government a lot of money. Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu revealed that repairs to the vandalized equipment have already cost Nigeria N9 billion. This amount doesn’t include the loss of goods, services, and time caused by power cuts.
To solve these problems, TCN had aimed to stabilize the grid within three weeks. The company has found three major areas, Shiroro, Jebba, and Gomo, where power grid problems often occur. These areas are causing many issues, including high frequency, which affects the power supply.
Minister Adelabu also said that the government is looking at how to fund the repairs. They plan to include the costs in the 2025 budget, but might also request extra funds in a supplementary budget to deal with the issue quickly.