Vandals pull down power tower in Akwa Ibom\xa0

Vandals have pulled down an electricity tower in Ete Community, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. TCN spokesperson, Ndidi...

Vandals have pulled down an electricity tower in Ete Community, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

According to her, the Tower T35 along the Eket-Ikot Abasi 132 kV Transmission Line collapsed on October 12 as a result of vandalism.

Mbah stated that the TCN inspection team visited the site and found several dismantled tower components on the ground.

She added that additional tower members had been removed from the fallen tower and carted away.

The team also discovered that Towers T7, T33, and T34 had been tampered with.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that Tower T35 along the Eket-Ikot Abasi 132 kV Transmission Line collapsed on October 12, 2025, as a result of vandalism.

“Following the collapse of the transmission tower, a TCN inspection team from the Lines Department visited the site of the incident in Ete Community, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, and found several dismantled tower components on the ground. A closer investigation revealed that additional tower members had been removed from the fallen tower and carted away. The team also observed that Towers T7, T33, and T34 had been tampered with,” she said.

Consequently, Mbah stressed that there is a temporary disruption of bulk power supply through the Eket and Ekim 132/33 kV Transmission Substations, as well as the Ibom Power Station.

This, she said, would prevent the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company from off-taking power from the substations for onward distribution to its customers in Eket and Ekim towns.

“As a result, there is a temporary disruption of bulk power supply through the Eket and Ekim 132/33 kV Transmission Substations, as well as the Ibom Power Station. Consequently, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company will be unable to off-take power from these substations for onwards distribution to its customers in Eket and Ekim towns,” she explained.

However, she added that TCN had commenced the mobilisation of resources to facilitate the reconstruction and restoration of the collapsed tower and transmission line as soon as possible.

The TCN reiterated that vandalism poses a serious threat to power stability, urging host communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.

“We reiterate that vandalism poses a serious threat to the stability of the nation’s transmission system and urge host communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around transmission installations to security operatives or the nearest TCN office.

“The fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure is a collective responsibility. We call on all stakeholders to join hands in protecting these critical national assets from further attacks,” she noted.

TCN disclosed recently that a sum of N88bn was spent by the Federal Government on the repair and restoration of power transmission facilities vandalised across the country from 2021 to date.

The company earlier reported that it spent N8.8bn on repairs in 2024 alone.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has called on the National Assembly to make laws that would make the punishment for vandalism more severe.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).