Vandals Attack Results to Power Outage in Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the federal government owned electric utility company in Nigeria, has reported a serious act of vandalism that severely impacted its power infrastructure in Abuja. Criminals targeted and stole vital 132kV underground cables near Millennium Park, leading to a widespread power outage across the capital city.

TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed, on Friday, in a statement that these stolen cables were crucial for transmitting large amounts of electricity to the 132kV Central Area Transmission Substation. The 132kV Central Area Transmission Substation normally distributes power to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) through eight feeder lines. AEDC then supplies this electricity to its customers in the Central Area and nearby neighborhoods.

The statement revealed that the vandals stole 40 meters of crucial 1x500mm² XLPE conductors from two 132kV transmission lines. This act has severely disrupted power supply to over 60% of Abuja, impacting key areas such as Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and some areas of the Presidential Villa.

The company has immediately dispatched engineers to the site to assess the damage and begin repairing the vandalized cables. The company has assured the public that they are working diligently to restore power to the affected areas as quickly as possible. It (TCN) also appealed to Nigerians to actively help protect the country’s vital power infrastructure.

“We enjoin Nigerians to be vigilant in observing and reporting suspicious activities to security operatives. We must work together to protect our transmission equipment and installations. This is very crucial to the development of the nation’s power sector,” the statement read.

To prevent future occurrences and ensure the reliable supply of electricity in the country, a multi-pronged approach is crucial. This includes enhanced security measures, community awareness campaigns, and stricter penalties for those involved in such acts of sabotage.