The managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria is worried about rising cases of vandalism in the country seeking cooperation and increased vigilance with host communities and security agencies.
Story by Mr. Kenneth Okoh, reporting from Abuja.
Alhaji AbdulAziz-Sule, the managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria(TCN) has expressed his desire to see a quick end to vandalism around the country and said the federal government-owned company was working to see to that. In pursuance of this, the Managing Director disclosed that results would come faster with the cooperation of stakeholders, host communities, security agencies as well as the Civil Defense Corps. “We are improving daily with the cooperation we are receiving and we are encouraged by the progress of the ongoing fight against vandalism”, he says.
Reports reaching our stable say the ongoing fight against vandalism of power infrastructure nationwide has been stepped up and culprits stand the risk of being jailed when apprehended. ‘It is everyone’s responsibility to guard against destruction of these installations; anything that happens to them, affects and disrupts the flow of life”, he pointed out. Vandals as recent as July had targeted transmission Towers T78 and 799 along the Ahoada-Yenagoa 132KV lines in the Igbooghene community in Bayelsa State causing the towers to collapse. “Those behind this reprehensible act must desist from it”, he stated.
The incident which occurred in late July also affected the TCN’s Yenagoa Substation and the Gbarin Power Station. Similar vandalisation had been reported in the south-south region including Ahoada and Port Harcourt in Rivers State. In April 2024 alone, there were 5 reported cases of vandalism around sections of the country, which of course will result in discomfort to residents. And only recently, a trailer crashed into power lines in Yobe and Jigawa states which also caused extensive damage “We need to emphasize that destruction of TCN facilities amounts to sabotage and attracts punishment”, warned the managing director. Alhaji Abdul-Aziz called on Nigerians to help monitor vandals and report suspicious movements around Gridlines.
He also encouraged the DSS, Civil defense, Security, and other relevant stakeholders not to relent wherever they are stationed. “With our increased sensitization and awareness, in no time Nigerians would be well educated to live up to expectations”, he added. TCN is service-based and highly technical and professionalized; it is expensive to procure quality spare parts and there are no other alternatives”, Abdul-Aziz says, stressing that TCN is now arguably better positioned to deliver on its mandate. This is coming on the heels of the support of the minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu.
