Vandalism of power infrastructure remains a severe challenge in Nigeria, significantly disrupting electricity supply and economic activities. Between January 2024 and June 2025, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported that 264 high-voltage transmission towers were vandalised nationwide, with 86 incidents in 2024 alone.
Multiple regions including Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, and Lagos have experienced intense vandalism attacks causing widespread blackouts and economic losses. The problem is driven by factors such as sabotage, political issues, and the lucrative scrap market for stolen materials.
TCN has been forced to divert substantial portions of its budget to repair and replace damaged infrastructure, spending over ₦88 billion between 2021 and 2025. The aging grid infrastructure, procurement delays, and insufficient legal deterrence compound the problem.
Authorities, including the Minister of Power, stress the urgent need for stricter laws treating vandalism as a criminal offense rather than a civil matter, coupled with enhanced community vigilance to protect national assets critical to power supply.
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