Power Cut in Aso Rock as Vandals Steal 132kv Underground Cables
The night of Friday 18th January 2025 will not be easily forgotten by occupants of the Presidential Villa, popularly known as Aso Rock. It was the night they were forced to start groping in the dark. The blackout was traced to the activities of vandals who carted away the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) 132kva underground cables.
The General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Ndidi Mbah, confirmed that the attack affected 60 per cent of power supply to Abuja as the vandals carted away 40 meters of 1×500mm2 XLPE conductors on the 2 numbers 132kva transmission lines.
According to her, the light also went out at such critical areas in the Federal capital Territory such as Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, and Mabushi. The vandalised 132kV transmission line and underground cable supplies bulk power to the Central Area transmission substation in Katampe, Abuja.
She said the incident impacted eight distribution feeders supplying the Central Area, Abuja.
Mbah expressed concern over the ongoing issue of cable vandalism, which continues to disrupt power delivery nationwide. She further emphasised that TCN has already dispatched a team of engineers to promptly restore power to the affected areas. “The vandalism of this critical infrastructure is suspected to have occurred near the Millenium Park axis of Abuja,” she stated.
Mbah therefore appealed to residents in the affected areas to remain patient while efforts to repair the damaged cables are underway. She also called on Nigerians to stay vigilant and protect transmission equipment to prevent further incidents of vandalism.
In the last few years, Nigeria has been plagued by widespread blackouts occasioned by the activities of vandals who cause billions of damages to electricity infrastructure thereby causing millions of the population to grope in the dark. In 2024 alone, TCN reported 13 cases of vandalism on power transmission infrastructure. There are severe economic and social impacts that comes with prolonged power outages. As it stands TCN could not offer any certain hope of when these attacks by vandals would end.
