In a stunning act of sabotage, vandals have stolen critical underground cables supplying electricity to the Presidential Villa, plunging Nigeria’s seat of power into darkness. The incident, which highlights the escalating issue of infrastructure vandalism, has disrupted power to key areas of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including the residence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) confirmed the incident on Friday, detailing how 40 meters of 1x500mm² XLPE conductors from a 132kV transmission line were brazenly carted away by criminals. The stolen cables, which transport bulk electricity to TCN’s Central Area transmission substation, are crucial for supplying power to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and several key locations, including the Presidential Villa.
The TCN’s General Manager, Ndidi Mba, revealed that the theft occurred near Millennium Park, just a few kilometers from the Presidential Villa. Areas affected by the outage include Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of the Presidential Villa.
The theft has not only exposed the vulnerability of Nigeria’s power infrastructure but has also raised questions about the security around critical government facilities. A source within the Villa described the incident as a “national embarrassment” and called for immediate measures to prevent future occurrences.
Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, condemned the act, describing it as a significant setback to the administration’s efforts to stabilize electricity supply. In a statement, the Minister said, “This level of vandalism undermines national progress and puts undue strain on the power sector. The perpetrators must be brought to justice.”
He assured Nigerians that TCN engineers have been mobilized to the site to repair the damage and restore power as quickly as possible. However, the minister acknowledged that such acts of sabotage present a significant challenge to the government’s goal of delivering uninterrupted power supply.
The vandalism of power infrastructure is not a new issue in Nigeria, but its impact on the Presidential Villa underscores the severity of the problem. Experts estimate that the country loses billions of naira annually to theft and vandalism of electricity assets.
Energy analysts warn that if not addressed, these incidents could deter foreign investors and hinder economic growth. “This is a wake-up call for the government to strengthen the security of critical infrastructure,” said one energy expert.
The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with Nigerians expressing frustration over the state of the country’s power sector. Many questioned how such a brazen act could occur so close to the seat of power, while others used the opportunity to demand accountability from the government.
One user on X wrote, “If the Presidential Villa can experience a blackout due to vandalism, what hope is there for ordinary Nigerians?” Another commented, “This is symbolic of the state of our nation: darkness everywhere.”
As TCN engineers work to restore power, the incident has reignited calls for stricter penalties for infrastructure vandals and better security measures to protect vital assets. The Tinubu administration now faces a critical test: not just restoring electricity but restoring public confidence in its ability to secure the nation’s essential services.
With the eyes of the nation and the international community watching, this theft is more than a power outage—it’s a metaphor for the urgent need to illuminate and secure Nigeria’s path to progress.
PIONEER NEWS 