By Oke Peter
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announced on Friday that its Ahoada-Yenagoa 132kV line which was under repair due to previous vandalism, was again attacked by vandals on November 19, 2024. “The attack, which affected towers 29 to 31, resulted in the theft of approximately one-third of the conductor,” the statement said.
News of vandalism of power infrastructures in the country has been frequent in the last three months and this has negatively affected some noticeable achievements recorded in the power sector by the current administration.
It is, however, worrying that despite the Federal Government’s efforts aimed at ensuring a steady power supply for all Nigerians, the new twist of attacks on transmission towers by the vandals is causing setbacks in the power sector.
While Nigerians are still grappling with the effects of hardship caused by the increase in the fuel pump price, the electricity sector, which could have provided alternative succor, is facing the greatest challenge.
As TCN, the agency that manages transmission lines and power networks across Nigeria is currently taking measures that will ensure uninterrupted power transmission across the country, the vandals are not relenting in their frequent attacks on power infrastructures.
While it is noticeable that poor funding and obsolete power equipment contribute to the grid collapses, the activities of vandals have also caused unimaginable problems to the grid collapse.
The attacks carried out in October led to various grid collapses and even caused a total blackout of almost two weeks in the 17 northern states and other parts of Nigeria.
Thanks to the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the TCN management, the National Security Advisor, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Assembly, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), heads of security agencies, power experts, and other stakeholders that have risen to the occasion by making concerted efforts and deliberations that would put a permanent solution to these attacks.
Repairs of vandalized power infrastructures by the government cost a fortune and the money spent on these repairs could have been used to procure more modern equipment that could improve the power sector.
However, as an option to bring this menace to a stop, the government must think outside the box and explore some alternatives by giving power infrastructures monitoring project contract to a private company as it did in the oil pipeline surveillance in the Niger Delta, this will help in the bringing a stop to these frequent attacks.
Also, the government and stakeholders should take a proactive step by engaging host communities, vigilantes, and concerned individuals to identify those behind these attacks, and anyone found culpable should be made to face the law.
Community leaders should be vigilant and regularly monitor strange and suspicious movements around their communities, while individuals who have information about the activities of the vandals should report such to law enforcement agencies.
Lastly, the federal government should consider investment in renewable energy as this will provide more alternatives to the current fluctuating power supply.
