Sustained public awareness and cooperation from host communities were essential to preventing further acts of vandalism and ensuring the safety and integrity of the rehabilitated towers
By Moses Okorie
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commenced rehabilitation works on four vandalised transmission towers along the Afam/IPP/Elelenwo 132kV Double Circuit Transmission Line in Rivers State.
The affected towers, identified as T50, T51, T52 and T53, were discovered on August 6, 2026, by TCN linesmen during routine activities along the transmission corridor.
According to TCN, further inspection revealed that critical bracing members had been removed from the four towers, thereby compromising their structural integrity and posing a serious risk to reliable electricity transmission along the corridor.
Following the discovery, the company urgently mobilised a contractor to the site to commence repair works.
A formal handover ceremony was subsequently held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by the Port Harcourt Transmission Region to mark the commencement of the rehabilitation project.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Head of Lines, Port Harcourt Transmission Region, Engr. Azuh Lucky, who represented TCN Management, stressed the need for greater community involvement in protecting electricity transmission infrastructure.
Azuh appealed to residents of Elelenwo, traditional rulers and the Local Government Chairman to support the company’s efforts in tackling vandalism and protecting the transmission facilities in their communities.
He emphasised that sustained public awareness and cooperation from host communities were essential to preventing further acts of vandalism and ensuring the safety and integrity of the rehabilitated towers.
TCN expressed concern over the risks posed by the vandalisation of transmission towers to the reliable supply of electricity along the affected corridor.
The company assured the public that it would deploy the necessary resources and expertise to ensure the timely completion of the rehabilitation works.
TCN also appealed to residents of Elelenwo and surrounding communities to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around transmission facilities.
The company said the cooperation of host communities remained critical to safeguarding the rehabilitated infrastructure and ensuring reliable power transmission along the Afam/IPP/Elelenwo corridor.
The statement was signed by the Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria and dated September 9, 2026.