The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that the federal government has expended over N88 billion on repairing and restoring power infrastructure damaged by vandalism across the nation from 2021 to the present day.
Seyi Onabajo, TCN’s Principal Manager (Lines) for the Lagos Region, shared this information during a one-day sensitisation programme conducted at the Odogunyan 132 kilovolt (kV) transmission substation in Ikorodu, Lagos.
“We know what the company is losing,” Onabajo said. “All the money that we have contributed to the government that was supposed to be used for rebuilding this place, instead, we are using it for maintenance.
“Record has it that, between 2021 and the present date, the government has spent over N88 billion just on repairs against this vandalism, which is alarming.
“We all are clamouring for a 24/7 supply of light, that’s why we are also concerned about making sure that all communities are being lit up. If we are spending so much on repairs, how do we achieve the aim of TCN for the community?”
Onabajo encouraged community members to take an active role in protecting power infrastructure, urging them to “join hands in rebuilding the mission to become a better place.” He described vandalism as a deliberate act carried out “just for self-gain”.
Addressing the broader consequences of such attacks, Mojeed Akintola, TCN’s General Manager in Lagos, emphasized that vandalism leads to significant delays and financial losses.
“Once a tower is vandalised, the downtime is always on the high side because you have to bring down the remaining one, then you start afresh. So, if you estimate that, it’s running to either two, three, or four months,” Akintola said.
“When the one at Abeokuta was vandalised, apart from the alternative source that we did, which took us four days, the repair of the 10 towers vandalised took three months.
“On that particular line, TCN spent N1 million per day. If you now estimate that to three months, you know how much that will be.” Akintola appealed to the public, including security agencies and steel companies, to assist TCN in preventing the vandalisation of critical power infrastructure.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
