178 Power Towers Destroyed in Six Months — TCN Raises Alarm Over Coordinated Sabotage Threatening Nigeria’s Grid

Nigeria’s fragile electricity grid is under siege as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has revealed that no fewer than 178 transmission towers have been vandalised across the country between January and June 2025, plunging several states into deepening blackouts and pushing the power sector to the brink.

Ali Sharifai, TCN’s General Manager of Transmission Services, disclosed the staggering figure during a press briefing in Keffi on Tuesday, June 17, describing it as one of the darkest operational chapters in the company’s history. He confirmed that the vandalism, which occurred in 42 separate incidents, has crippled critical infrastructure and disrupted power distribution to millions.

Bayelsa, Rivers, Abia, and Kano have borne the brunt of the destruction, with Sharifai noting that 2024 had already seen 86 towers attacked, 26 of which were completely grounded. “We thought last year’s figures were alarming, but 2025 has proven far more devastating,” he lamented.

Natural disasters have only worsened the crisis. A violent windstorm in May tore down six towers along the Kainji-Birnin Kebbi line, while another incident on the Apir-Lafia-Jos axis led to a tower’s partial collapse. The combination of sabotage and climate-related damage has set back TCN’s grid expansion and repair targets.

Sharifai pointed fingers at a toxic mix of motives fueling the attacks—ranging from economic desperation and criminal enterprise to politically motivated sabotage. “These are not isolated cases. They are strategic, frequent, and targeted acts that strain both our finances and our ability to serve the public,” he warned.

To counter the escalating threat, TCN has engaged the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to secure vulnerable transmission corridors. According to Sharifai, a pilot scheme has been launched that will use advanced surveillance technology, including motion sensors and drone mapping, to deter future attacks on critical assets.

Mass sensitisation campaigns have also been launched across radio, television, and social media to rally public support. “We’re reminding Nigerians that TCN assets are national assets—your assets. Destroying them is sabotaging your own progress,” he stressed.

Despite these efforts, power supply remains erratic in many parts of the country. Analysts say unless there’s a decisive clampdown on the vandals and accelerated investment in transmission protection infrastructure, the grid may face partial collapse before the end of the year.