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In this interview, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz, addresses the security challenges affecting the national grid and the progress being made in investing in the stability and reliability of grid.

Financial Nigeria (FN): The country has continued to grapple with security challenges, with criminal vandalism of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN)’s power transmission facilities quite a frequent occurrence. What is the company’s security strategy for a resilient and expanding power grid?

Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz (SAA): TCN’s strategies for securing the grid network, in terms of security enhancements, include the use of cybersecurity measures, which entail the implementation of Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and firewall across control network, as well as continuous monitoring and training.

The physical security measures include the use of CCTV installations, barriers, access control, and drones. We also have extensive collaborations with the security agencies.

FN: How would you like to summarise the recent grid capacity expansion by TCN?

SAA: Between January 2024 and April 2025, TCN commissioned 70 power transformers across its transmission substations nationwide, with a combined capacity involvement of 7,326.50 MVA. This includes both new installations and capacity upgrades.

The 70 projects include 52 TCN/PMU transformers with a total installed capacity of 5,885 MVA; 2 CN/Engineering transformers with the capacity of 120 MVA; 4 TCN/TS transformer projects with the total capacity of 460 MVA; 1 TCN/SLA project, which added 110 MVA transformer capacity; and FGN Power Co. transformer projects added to TCN grid are 11 in number, totalling 752 MVA.

FN: Which other types of projects have been undertaken by TCN in this period?

SAA: We have completed a couple of transmission lines projects and upgraded existing substations to support load growth and improve service delivery. For instance, the Ashaka Substation has been Upgraded from 2 x 30 MVA to 2 x 60 MVA, 132/33kV to meet industrial and residential demands. Also, the Kainji Substation now has two 330kV bays extensions to accommodate additional transmission lines. In Ajaokuta Substation, we replaced aged equipment to improve reliability near Nigeria’s steel complex. While at Jebba Substation, TCN did a comprehensive replacement of circuit breakers, voltage transformers, current transformers, and isolators.

In the areas of transmission lines, TCN has embarked on a nationwide reconductoring programme to replace derated and aged conductors on key transmission lines. This is aimed at increasing line capacity, improving thermal performance, and reducing technical losses.

FN: These are considerable investments in the grid but the need for further expansion and reliability remains. How is TCN looking at this?

SAA: The national grid remains the backbone of electricity supply in Nigeria, serving as the primary conduit for bulk power transmission from generation stations to distribution networks across the country. Its reliability and efficiency are critical to national development, economic growth, and improved livelihoods. Despite commendable strides in grid reinforcement, significant challenges continue to impede optimal performance. These include persistent vandalism of transmission infrastructure, aging assets, delays in Right of Way (RoW) acquisition, and gaps in the implementation of sectoral policies and regulations. These issues collectively threaten the stability, expansion, and resilience of the grid. Some of the ways TCN is currently securing and expanding the national grid include modernising infrastructure, enhancing security, ensuring nationwide access and system stability and collaborating with Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and all its stakeholder to seeing to a stronger and more reliable grid.

FN: The country has continued to experience widespread system down times, which are often described as grip collapses. How do we achieve stability, even as we simultaneously pursue expansion?

SAA: TCN has adopted strategies to enhance grid stability, expand capacity, and address key operational challenges. Nationwide infrastructure upgrades, including substation expansions, reconductoring of transmission lines, and the installation of voltage control equipment, are currently underway to strengthen the resilience and reliability of the grid. These technical interventions are being driven by strategic initiatives such as the Nigerian Electricity Grid Maintenance, Expansion and Rehabilitation Programme (NEGMERP) and the Central Bank of Nigeria-funded Service Level Agreement (SLA) projects, ensuring the timely delivery of critical transmission investments.

As already mentioned, and in recognising the grid as a national security asset, TCN has also deepened its collaboration with security agencies and industry stakeholders to deter vandalism and safeguard critical infrastructure.

FN: Are there policy gaps in ensuring the protection of TCN’s assets?

SAA: For the successful expansion of the national grid, the federal government must issue clear and actionable policy statements on RoW acquisition, port clearance of power equipment, and deterrence of vandalism.  

A coordinated policy framework should require federal, state, and local governments to guarantee seamless access to RoW for all new transmission expansion projects. Where necessary, affected landowners should be provided with fair and timely compensation or suitable land replacement, particularly for farmland. This will significantly accelerate project execution and reduce disputes.

Stronger legislation is needed to facilitate the efficient clearance of power transmission equipment at Nigerian ports. The current Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) process is insufficient. A streamlined and enforceable policy is required to avoid unnecessary delays in project delivery.

Laws must be enacted or strengthened to impose strict penalties, such as life imprisonment on individuals caught vandalising power infrastructure, especially transmission lines. This will serve as a strong deterrent and help curb the growing menace of vandalism and safeguard national assets essential to power supply and economic stability.

TCN will continue to actively engage communities, security agencies, and other critical stakeholders in safeguarding national transmission assets and supporting the successful implementation of grid expansion initiatives.

FN: Would you like to highlight some other challenges that are hindering TCN’s efforts at capacity expansion?

SAA: I have spoken about most of them already. But let me highlight the challenges to include high deduction from TLF impacting TCN’s ability to complete projects, system security considerations, inadequate voltage compensation devices, weak cybersecurity policies, aging grid infrastructure with high losses, evacuation bottlenecks or congestion e.g. Azura/Ihovbor corridor, issues with port clearance, financial issues – due to Discos nonpayment, inadequate funding, and Right of Way issues. They are stalling a lot of uncompleted projects. We also lack modern tools like helicopters and drones for transmission lines surveillance.

FN: How bad is the issue of vandalisation of your transmission assets?

SAA: The issue of vandalisation of TCN installations has reached an all-time high, in spite of ongoing efforts to curb the menace. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, a total of 27 vandalism incidents were recorded, affecting 109 transmission towers. Abuja Region recorded 2 vandalism incidents with 5 towers affected; Enugu Region witnessed 1 vandalism incident, which affected 13 towers. Five vandalism incidents, which affected 20 towers, were recorded in Kano Region; Lagos Region witnessed 4 vandalism incidents, affecting 7 towers; Port Harcourt Region recorded 13 vandalisms, which affected 62 towers and a loss of supply to Bayelsa State; and Shiroro witnessed 1 vandalism incident with 1 tower affected.

Sadly, the trend has continued, but I am glad to note that recently there has been the active participation of host communities, which has led to the apprehending of several vandals. We are hopeful and will continue to work with security operatives, host communities, and stakeholders to fight this menace.

FN: Despite the escalating nature of the vandalism crisis, TCN must have also recorded some progress in curtailing the menace. What are the successes that have been achieved in this regard?

SAA: TCN has been engaging with local communities and relevant state governments in areas where transmission lines are prone to vandalism. A notable example is the collaboration with the Yobe State Government, which has contributed to the stability of the Gombe–Damaturu and Damaturu–Molai (Maiduguri) 330kV lines. This stability is attributed to earlier stakeholder engagements. TCN will continue to work with all relevant stakeholders to safeguard critical national infrastructure.

The sponsored programs and jingles on both social and print media as well as radio and television stations, which are aimed at discouraging the vandalism of TCN assets, are reaching a wide audience. Nigerians are now increasingly aware that TCN property is public property, and any suspicious activity should be reported to the relevant authorities. This awareness has contributed to the arrest of vandals in Katsina and Benue States, who are currently facing prosecution.

Following a series of vandalism incidents in 2024, TCN reached out to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for support in protecting vulnerable transmission lines. As part of a pilot scheme, several critical lines have been selected for the deployment of state-of-the-art technology to monitor and deter future acts of vandalism.

We have continued to collaborate with the ONSA and security operatives in various states as well as communities hosting our installations. Without effective buy-in of host communities, the fight will be difficult as they are our eyes on the ground. This approach has yielded dividends. Recently, vandals have been apprehended in more than 10 host communities, and they were handed over to the police for prosecution. This year alone, we have held sensitisation programmes in communities in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Benin, Enugu, and Kaduna.

We have equally met with some state governors, especially those states that have recently recorded incidences of vandalism, to solicit their support. We have equally used our social media platforms extensively in this fight and our weekly TV programme on NTA, among others. This is a fight that we must win for our grid expansion programme to deliver the targeted results.