The Transmission Company of Nigeria, Lagos State region, has intensified efforts to combat vandalism of electricity infrastructure through a sensitization programme held in Itori, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, south west Nigeria.
The awareness campaign brought together traditional rulers, security agencies, community leaders and residents on the dangers of vandalising transmission towers, building under transmission lines Right of Way (RoW), and excavating around transmission installations.
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Speaking at the event, the General Manager (Transmission), Lagos Region, Adeshina Adeonipekun, disclosed that TCN recorded about 276 cases of tower vandalism between 2022 and 2025.
According to him, the figure has dropped significantly in 2026 due to stronger collaboration between TCN, host communities and security agencies.
“This year, with the support of communities and the proactiveness of our staff, we have been able to reduce vandalism cases to about 40,” he said.
Adeonipekun noted that sensitization programmes remain one of TCN’s major strategies for protecting critical national infrastructure and maintaining stable power supply across the country.
The Principal Manager (Lines), Kuye Emmanuel, explained that the company has strengthened surveillance around transmission facilities through community-based security arrangements and private vigilante groups engaged across various communities.
He added that TCN also provides incentives to farmers and residents in host communities to encourage cooperation and timely reporting of suspicious activities around transmission lines.
Annual Exercise
In his remarks, the Olu of Itori Land, Abdulfatai Akorede Akamo, commended TCN for sustaining the sensitization programme and appealed for it to become an annual exercise.
The monarch stated that traditional rulers across the 127 communities under his kingdom have continued to ensure protection of transmission infrastructure within their domains.
Also speaking, the District Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Itori Command, Olusola Balogun, warned residents against engaging in vandalism, stressing that the offence attracts imprisonment upon conviction.
She noted that destruction of power infrastructure could result in widespread outages, economic losses and serious security challenges.
Similarly, the Divisional Police Officer of Itori Police Station, Dapo Ojekunle, urged residents to support security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities linked to vandalism.
He advised community members not to harbour vandals or conceal stolen materials, adding that public cooperation is crucial to ensuring successful prosecution of offenders.
