The Transmission Company of Nigeria has called on host communities in Rivers State to take ownership of national power infrastructure and join efforts to curb the persistent vandalism of transmission towers.
According to The PUNCH, the TCN’s Regional Manager for Port Harcourt Region, Mr. Akpa Anyaegbunam, during a sensitisation programme in Igbu Ehuda, Rivers State, appealed to youths from Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas to actively support the protection of electricity installations.
“Each time a transmission tower is vandalised, the country is set back—not just financially, but socially and economically,” Anyaegbunam stated. “We spend billions of naira to replace damaged equipment, but the bigger cost is the suffering of businesses and households left in darkness.”
The sensitisation comes just after TCN announced the engagement of three contractors to rebuild collapsed towers on the 330kV Kainji–Birnin Kebbi transmission line. The company expressed concern that frequent attacks on infrastructure were sabotaging national development.
Anyaegbunam cited the July 2024 incident in which 20 towers along the Ahoada–Yenagoa line were vandalised, resulting in a four-month power outage across Bayelsa State. He noted that the prolonged blackout disrupted economic activities and affected livelihoods.
While addressing the gathered youth, Anyaegbunam clarified that the TCN was not accusing anyone directly but stressed the importance of local vigilance. “We are not blaming the youths, but we know that it’s nearly impossible for an outsider to carry out such acts without help or silence from within the community,” he said.
He urged communities to see power infrastructure as a shared responsibility. “Electricity is key to development. Destroying power assets only worsens the economic challenges we are trying to overcome.”
Representing the communities, a youth leader, Mr. Isaiah Sunday, pledged support for the initiative and recommended forming surveillance teams to monitor transmission facilities. “We are ready to protect government infrastructure. With local monitoring groups, we can involve both youths and community leaders in safeguarding these installations,” he said.