Vandals Sabotage 132KV Underground Cables, Disrupting Power Supply In Abuja

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported another case of vandalism affecting its 132 Kilo Volt (KV) transmission lines and underground cables in Abuja. This attack has led to widespread power outages in the Central Area and neighboring districts.

Incident Details

According to a statement released on Friday by Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, the incident occurred during the early hours of the day. The vandalized 132KV underground cables are critical components that transport bulk electricity to the TCN’s 132KV Central Area transmission substation. This substation, in turn, distributes power via eight feeders to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), which supplies electricity to customers across the Central Area and its environs.

The vandalism, which took place near the Millennium Park axis of Abuja, has resulted in a significant power disruption, affecting over 60% of the city’s electricity supply.

Areas Affected

Mrs. Mbah highlighted the areas currently facing power outages due to the incident, including:

Maitama
Wuse
Jabi
Life Camp
Asokoro
Utako
Mabushi

Extent of Damage

The vandals stole approximately 40 meters of 1×500 Millimeters (MM) XLPE conductors from the two 132KV transmission lines. This extensive damage has further compounded the challenges of maintaining consistent power supply in the city.

Response Efforts

In response to the incident, TCN engineers have been swiftly mobilized to the site to commence repairs on the damaged cables. Mrs. Mbah urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities to security agencies.

“Protecting our transmission equipment and installations is essential for the development of Nigeria’s power sector. Collective effort is crucial to safeguarding these critical assets,” she emphasized.

Call to Action

TCN appeals to all citizens to actively participate in protecting the nation’s power infrastructure. Vandalism not only disrupts power supply but also hampers progress in the power sector, affecting homes, businesses, and overall economic activities.