Suspected bandits attacked the construction site of a critical power substation in Obajana, Kogi State, causing extensive damage and delaying the government’s efforts to improve power supply.
The attack, which occurred late Tuesday night, targeted the 330/132/33kV transmission substation under construction, resulting in the destruction of a newly installed 150MVA power transformer. This setback is expected to impact plans to enhance electricity distribution in Kogi State and surrounding regions.
According to a statement by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the assailants invaded the Obajana project site at around 11:55 pm on November 12, 2024, and fired shots indiscriminately, forcing security guards at the location to flee. In the chaos, a bullet struck the transformer, causing significant damage to its radiator and creating a major delay in the project’s timeline. TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, condemned the attack and expressed concern over the increased vandalism of power infrastructure across Nigeria.
Following the incident, TCN has launched an investigation in collaboration with the contractors on site to assess the full extent of the damage to the transformer and other equipment. The organization expressed regret over the frequency of such attacks, emphasizing that they hamper progress in stabilizing the national power grid. This assault on the Obajana substation construction site is the latest in a worrying trend of infrastructure sabotage targeting Nigeria’s power sector.
Just days before this attack, TCN had raised alarms over similar acts of vandalism affecting the 330kV Lokoja–Gwagwalada transmission line. This earlier incident led to the damage of three major transmission towers, T306, T307, and T308, which are crucial to maintaining power flow across the grid. TCN officials highlighted that the repeated destruction of power installations has become a national issue, obstructing efforts to meet Nigeria’s growing energy demands.
The TCN statement underlined that each instance of vandalism sets back national progress, adding that these acts of sabotage erode years of effort invested in boosting Nigeria’s energy infrastructure. Officials have urged communities to support efforts to protect transmission infrastructure from further attacks, as the cumulative impact of these incidents threatens to destabilize the national grid.
TCN appealed to law enforcement agencies and local communities to enhance security around critical power installations to prevent such occurrences. This attack underscores the need for coordinated efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s power infrastructure as the government strives to ensure consistent and improved electricity supply for its citizens.