20 towers vandalised, N8bn lost monthly: How scrap metal thieves are destroying Nigeria’s power grid

At least 20 electricity transmission towers have been vandalised across Nigeria between January and August 2026, costing the electricity market N8 billion monthly in transmission losses, with one suspected vandal killed and four arrests recorded, Daily Trust reports.

The latest incident occurred on August 8 when Tower 101 along the 330kV Ughelli-Benin transmission line in Delta State collapsed — with the suspected vandal’s body found crushed beneath it.

TCN Managing Director Sule Abdulaziz described the sabotage as one of the power sector’s most persistent challenges, warning that vandalism was diverting critical infrastructure development funds into constant repairs while disrupting electricity supply nationwide.