The Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has confirmed that parts of the Presidential Villa and 60 percent of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are currently without power due to the theft of a 132-kilovolt underground cable by vandals.
This cable is crucial for transporting bulk electricity to the 132kV Central Area Transmission Substation in Abuja.
TCN spokesperson Ndidi Mbah stated that the vandalism took place near the Millennium Park in Abuja, with the vandals stealing 40 meters of 1×500 mm² XLPE conductors from two 132 kV transmission lines.
As a result, areas like Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa are currently experiencing power outages.
“The vandalised 132kV underground cable transports bulk electricity to TCN’s 132kV Central Area Transmission Substation, which then supplies power through 8No. distribution feeders to AEDC for onward supply to its customers in Central Area and environs.
“The incident, which was carried out around the Millennium Park axis of Abuja, has affected over 60% of the power supply to Abuja as the vandals carted away 40 meters of 1x500mm² XLPE conductors on the 2 numbers 132kV transmission lines.
“TCN engineers have already been mobilised to the site of the incident to repair the vandalised cables,” the company stated.
Earlier reports had also attributed power outages in Abuja to faulty 132-kilovolt lines from Katampe to AT5 Central Area Transmission Station, according to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC.