Business
Blackout hits Akwa Ibom as vandals destroy power transmission tower
Ete Community, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has thrown into total darkness following destruction of an electricity by vandals.
TCN spokesperson, Ndidi Mbah, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to her, the Tower T35 along the Eket-Ikot Abasi 132 kV Transmission Line collapsed on October 12 as a result of vandalism.
Mbah stated that the TCN inspection team visited the site and found several dismantled tower components on the ground.
She added that additional tower members had been removed from the fallen tower and carted away.
The team also discovered that Towers T7, T33, and T34 had been tampered with.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria hereby states that Tower T35 along the Eket-Ikot Abasi 132 kV Transmission Line collapsed on October 12, 2025, as a result of vandalism.
“Following the collapse of the transmission tower, a TCN inspection team from the Lines Department visited the site of the incident in Ete Community, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, and found several dismantled tower components on the ground. A closer investigation revealed that additional tower members had been removed from the fallen tower and carted away.
The team also observed that Towers T7, T33, and T34 had been tampered with,” she said.
Consequently, Mbah stressed that there is a temporary disruption of bulk power supply through the Eket and Ekim 132/33 kV Transmission Substations, as well as the Ibom Power Station.
This, she said, would prevent the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company from off-taking power from the substations for onwards distribution to its customers in Eket and Ekim towns.
“As a result, there is a temporary disruption of bulk power supply through the Eket and Ekim 132/33 kV Transmission Substations, as well as the Ibom Power Station. Consequently, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company will be unable to off-take power from these substations for onwards distribution to its customers in Eket and Ekim towns,” she explained.
However, she added that TCN had commenced the mobilisation of resources to facilitate the reconstruction and restoration of the collapsed tower and transmission line as soon as possible.
The TCN reiterated that vandalism poses a serious threat to power stability, urging host communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
“We reiterate that vandalism poses a serious threat to the stability of the nation’s transmission system and urge host communities to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around transmission installations to security operatives or the nearest TCN office.
“The fight against the vandalism of power infrastructure is a collective responsibility. We call on all stakeholders to join hands in protecting these critical national assets from further attacks,” she noted.
TCN disclosed recently that a sum of N88bn was spent by the Federal Government on the repair and restoration of power transmission facilities vandalised across the country from 2021 to date.
The company earlier reported that it spent N8.8bn on repairs in 2024 alone.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has called on the National Assembly to make laws that would make the punishment for vandalism more severe.
The Federal Government has ordered the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to immediately halt all enforcement actions regarding the ban on sachet alcohol and 200ml PET bottle products.
The offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, OSGF, and National Security Adviser, ONSA, in a joint intervention, cited grave concerns over economic stability and potential security threats as reasons for the directive.
The statement warned that continued enforcement, in the absence of a fully implemented National Alcohol Policy, could “destabilize communities, worsen unemployment, and trigger avoidable security challenges”.
According to the statement signed by Terrence Kuanum, Special Adviser on Public Affairs to the SGF, the government clarified that while the National Alcohol Policy has been signed by the Federal Ministry of Health under the direction of President Bola Tinubu, NAFDAC must refrain from sealing factories or warehouses until the policy is fully operationalized.
The statement emphasized that the current “de facto banning” of the products without a harmonized framework is creating significant disruptions.
“The continued sealing of warehouses and de facto banning of sachet alcohol products is already creating economic disruptions and poses a growing security threat, particularly given the impact on employment, supply chains, and informal distribution networks across the country,” the statement warned.
The statement further revealed that the decision was influenced by a correspondence from the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control, dated November 13, 2025.
The letter, signed by Deputy Chairman Uchenna Harris Okonkwo, highlighted existing National Assembly resolutions that cautioned against the proposed ban.
Reaffirming a previous suspension issued in December 2025, the statement stated the need to review legislative, public health and economic factors before a final decision is reached.
“Accordingly, all actions, decisions, or enforcement measures relating to the ongoing ban on sachet alcohol are to be suspended pending the final consultations and implementation of the National Alcohol Policy and the issuance of a final directive,” the statement emphasized.
The naira continued appreciation against the United States dollar at the official foreign exchange on Tuesday.
Central Bank of Nigeria data showed that the Naira further firmed up to N 1,351.02 against the dollar on Tuesday, up from N 1,354.26 traded the previous day.
This means that on a day-to-day basis the Naira gained N3.24 against the dollar.
Similarly, at the black market, the Naira appreciated by N5 to N1450 per dollar, up from N1455.
The development comes as the apex in a notice signed by its director of the trade and exchange department, directing banks to sell a maximum of $150,000 per week to licensed Bureau De Change operators.
DAILY POST reports that the country’s external reserves remained high at $47.03 billion as of 6th February 2026.
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