Kano State has emerged as the most affected by power infrastructure vandalism in Nigeria, recording about 70 incidents in 2025 alone, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said, raising fresh concerns over electricity supply stability and rising repair costs.
TCN's Assistant General Manager (Transmission) for Kano Region, Engr. Ibrahim Aliyu disclosed this while speaking on the growing challenge of vandalism targeting transmission towers and substations across the state.
He said the persistent attacks have significantly disrupted TCN’s operations and strained its limited resources.
According to Engr. Aliyu, repeated vandalism has stalled several repair works in Kano, as equipment and installations are frequently damaged or stolen shortly after interventions are carried out.
He explained that the situation has made it difficult for the company to sustain progress on critical infrastructure meant to improve power supply in the area.
“Kano is currently topping the vandalism list nationwide, unlike before when there were not on the list. We have recorded about 70 cases of vandalism last year alone, and this is affecting our ability to deliver stable electricity,” he said.
He noted that “each incident forces TCN to divert funds originally earmarked for new or ongoing projects to repair damaged transmission towers.”
This, he said, slows down expansion plans and undermines efforts to strengthen the national grid.
Engr. Aliyu revealed that installing a single transmission tower costs between ₦20 million and ₦40 million, a figure driven largely by the importation of critical materials from countries such as India and China.
According to him, the financial burden is enormous and unsustainable if the trend continues.
“Whenever our towers are vandalised, we end up using money meant for other projects to fix them. One tower alone costs over N20 million to repair because the components are imported,” he explained.
Beyond the financial implications, he warned that vandalism poses serious risks to public safety and contributes to frequent power outages experienced by residents and businesses.
Damaged towers and substations, he said, weaken the transmission network and increase the likelihood of system failures.
The TCN official called for urgent collective action to curb the menace, urging communities, traditional leaders and security agencies to work closely with the company.
He emphasised that protecting power infrastructure is a shared responsibility, as electricity supply is critical to economic growth and social development.
Engr. Aliyu appealed to residents to report suspicious activities around transmission facilities and to resist harbouring vandals within their communities.
He also called on security agencies to intensify patrols around critical power infrastructure, particularly in vandalism-prone areas.
As vandalism continues to threaten Nigeria’s power transmission network, TCN says sustained collaboration among stakeholders will be crucial to safeguarding infrastructure, reducing losses and ensuring more reliable electricity supply for Kano State and the country at large.
