The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), announced that it has lost the sum of N1.7 billion this year due to vandalism on its facilities in Maiduguri and surrounding towns.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Power, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu on Thursday in Maiduguri, at a Town Hall Meeting to address the vandalism of power and telecommunications infrastructure.
The Minister, represented by TCN Chairman, Alhaji Sule AbdulAzeez said the loss recorded was on vandalised electricity lines at an average of 740 megawatts per day, adding that in a month, the sum of N139 million was on average, the wheeling charges and energy lost to Maiduguri and environs.
Read: Power distribution in Nigeria; a gift that keeps giving?
The Minister also revealed that eight 330KV towers had been brought down by terrorists in Damaturu and Maiduguri between January to date.
On the cost of replacement and restoration of the damaged 330KV towers and other accessories, he said the average cost of reconstructing each tower is about N110 million translating to about N880 million.
“Five towers were successfully erected and stringing completed on Sept. 17, awaiting energisation before the insurgents brought down another two sets of towers (1193 and 1194) at Auna village the next day Sept. 18, ” he added.
Read: Minister of Power sacks TCN MD, confirms appointment of Directors
He also mentioned that other parts of the country have been affected by power vandalism, including a village near Suleja in Niger state where two towers were vandalised.
“Six towers in Oronta village in Abia state were brought down by vandals in Umuahia, while ten drums of aluminium conductors were carted away disrupting erection of a new tower.
“Also, the Escravos to Lagos pipeline was blasted by vandals disrupting gas supply to over six power generating stations in the western part of the country in 2016,” he said.
Read: Nigeria’s power supply: The Humpty Dumpty called national grid
He urged for the swift execution embedded for generation such as the proposed NNPC 50MW gas plant, solar farm, and wind farm in Maiduguri and engagement of Police Anti-Electricity Vandalism Response Squad to help contain the menace.
Reports say some parts of Maiduguri and environs have been cut off from public power supply since January due to vandalism of power infrastructure by terrorists.
What you should know
To deal with the power issues caused by terrorism in the area, the Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Alhaji Mele Kyari announced earlier this year that the corporation will partner with Borno State Government to establish a Gas Power Plant following the vandalization of the national grid by insurgents which put the state almost three months into total blackout.