Vandalism Sparks Blackout Fears As Six Transmission Towers Collapse On Apir–Lafia Power Corridor

Vandalism Sparks Blackout Fears as Six Transmission Towers Collapse on Apir–Lafia Power Corridor Fresh concerns over electricity supply disruptions have emerged across Nigeria’s North-Central region following the collapse of six transmission towers on the critical Apir–Lafia 330kV transmission corridor, an incident the Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN has attributed to vandalism. The damaged infrastructure has raised fears of prolonged power outages affecting thousands of consumers in parts of Abuja, Nasarawa, Benue, Plateau, and surrounding areas. According to TCN, the affected towers—identified as T125 to T130 on the Apir–Lafia 330kV Transmission Lines I and II collapsed in the early hours of May 30 after vandals damaged critical components of the structures. The incident was discovered after both transmission lines tripped during a heavy downpour and efforts to restore service failed. In a statement issued by TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, engineers conducting a physical inspection of the transmission route found extensive damage along the corridor, confirming deliberate acts of vandalism. The destruction has left both transmission lines out of service pending reconstruction of the affected towers. The Apir–Lafia corridor is one of the major transmission routes serving parts of North-Central Nigeria. Its disruption threatens electricity delivery to customers within the franchise areas of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and Jos Electricity Distribution Company, increasing concerns about power reliability in the region. To reduce the immediate impact of the outage, TCN said power is being temporarily routed through the Lafia–Jos transmission line to maintain supply to the affected areas. However, industry experts warn that the alternative arrangement may not fully compensate for the loss of capacity on the damaged corridor, particularly if repairs are delayed. TCN officials have already mobilized engineers and technical teams to assess the extent of the damage and determine the materials required for reconstruction. The company has not announced a timeline for full restoration but indicated that work would commence once assessments are complette. The incident has renewed concerns about the growing threat posed by vandalism to Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure. Industry data show that attacks on transmission facilities have become increasingly frequent, resulting in widespread outages, costly repairs, and disruptions to economic activities. Recent reports indicate that hundreds of transmission towers have been damaged nationwide in recent years, placing additional strain on the country’s already fragile power network. Energy analysts say repeated attacks on transmission infrastructure not only increase maintenance costs but also undermine efforts to improve electricity supply and attract investment into the power sector. They argue that enhanced surveillance, stronger community engagement, and improved security around critical assets are necessary to curb the menace. TCN condemned the vandalism and appealed to host communities, security agencies, and members of the public to help protect national grid infrastructure by reporting suspicious activities around transmission facilities. The company stressed that safeguarding transmission assets is essential to ensuring stable and reliable electricity supply across the country.

• Six transmission towers on the Apir–Lafia 330kV corridor collapsed after acts of vandalism.
• The damaged towers are identified as T125 to T130.
• Both Apir–Lafia Transmission Lines I and II remain out of service.
• Power supply disruptions may affect customers served by AEDC and JEDC.
• TCN has deployed engineers and activated temporary supply arrangements through the Lafia–Jos line.
• The incident has intensified concerns about the vulnerability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure to vandalism.