The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and several key areas of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse, and Garki, were plunged into darkness following a recent attack by vandals on critical power lines.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed that the vandals stole underground cables, disrupting power supply across the affected regions.
In a statement released on Friday, TCN’s Public Affairs Manager, Ndidi Mbah, revealed that the incident took place in the early hours of the day.
The vandals targeted the 132kV transmission line and underground cable that supply bulk power to the 132kV Central Area transmission substation in Katampe, located in the heart of the capital.
The attack has led to a significant power outage, affecting eight distribution feeders serving the Central Area. As a result, more than 60 percent of Abuja’s power supply has been disrupted, leaving residents and businesses in darkness.
The areas most impacted by the theft include Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa. TCN has mobilised a team of engineers to repair the damaged infrastructure and restore power to the affected regions.
TCN condemned the constant attacks on critical power infrastructure and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant in protecting transmission equipment. The company also emphasised the urgency of restoring power as engineers work on-site to repair the stolen cables.
This incident follows a concerning pattern of vandalism, with the government spending N8.8 billion last year to repair 128 electricity towers damaged by vandals across the country. TCN has vowed to continue efforts to safeguard the nation’s power supply.
