TCN, ONSA, NSCDC Intensify Joint Efforts to Protect Power Infrastructure from Vandalism
Oru Leonard
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have renewed their commitment to strengthening collaboration to combat vandalism and sabotage of critical electricity transmission infrastructure across the country.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a strategic meeting held at the TCN Corporate Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, where officials from the three institutions discussed measures to enhance inter-agency cooperation, intelligence sharing, and rapid response mechanisms aimed at safeguarding the nation’s power assets.
Speaking at the meeting, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of TCN, Engr. Dr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, commended the growing partnership between the company and security agencies in protecting the national transmission network.
He stressed that sustained collaboration, timely intelligence sharing, prompt intervention, and effective law enforcement remain essential in addressing the persistent threat posed by vandals to critical national infrastructure.
Abdulaziz described the destruction of transmission facilities as a significant operational and financial burden on the company, citing the recent vandalism of six transmission towers along the Apir–Makurdi transmission line and the destruction of 14 spans of conductors on the Lambata 132kV transmission line.
According to him, TCN had to immediately mobilize contractors to undertake emergency repairs despite financial constraints, only for vandals to strike again while restoration efforts were ongoing.
The TCN boss also highlighted the company’s ongoing community sensitisation programmes, which involve host communities, traditional rulers, and security agencies in promoting collective responsibility for protecting transmission assets.
He advocated the deployment of technology-driven surveillance systems and the establishment of a joint monitoring centre involving TCN and the NSCDC to facilitate real-time monitoring and swift responses to security threats across the extensive transmission network.
Representing the Office of the National Security Adviser, Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Army Intelligence Programme (NAIP), Air Vice Marshal E.E. Effiom, called for innovative approaches to protecting critical national assets.
He proposed a three-tier protection framework centred on delay, awareness, and response. According to him, physical barriers should be deployed to slow down intruders, surveillance technology leveraged for early threat detection, and security agencies empowered to swiftly apprehend and prosecute offenders.
Effiom noted that while community vigilantes remain important partners in infrastructure protection, their effectiveness depends on access to timely intelligence and adequate technological support.
Also speaking, the Assistant Commandant General (Power) of the NSCDC, Akinlade Esther O., reaffirmed the corps’ commitment to supporting TCN in securing transmission infrastructure nationwide.
She assured the company that NSCDC commands across the country remain prepared to respond promptly to incidents of vandalism and work closely with TCN to ensure perpetrators are investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The meeting concluded with all stakeholders pledging to deepen institutional collaboration through enhanced intelligence sharing, regular stakeholder engagements, and coordinated security operations aimed at reducing vandalism and strengthening the reliability of the national grid.
Senior management staff of TCN, officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, and representatives of the NSCDC attended the meeting.
