Transmission Company of Nigeria, on Friday, confirmed that parts of the Presidential Villa and 60 percent of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been thrown into darkness after vandals stole a 132-kilovolt underground cable that transports bulk electricity to its 132kV Central Area Transmission Substation.
TCN disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, saying that the vandalisation occurred around the Millennium Park axis of Abuja.
TCN also said the vandals made away with 40 meters of 1×500 mm² XLPE conductors on the two 132 kV transmission lines.
The statement read, “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.”
TCN added that the development has led to several areas in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, experiencing power outages, including Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Life Camp, Asokoro, Utako, Mabushi, and parts of Presidential Villa.
AEDC had earlier blamed recent power outage in Abuja on faulty 132-kilovolt lines 182 from the Katampe to AT5 Central Area Transmission Station.