TCN, NSCDC Forge New Security Cooperation to Protect Nigeria’s Power, Telecom Infrastructure By Raymond Enoch
In a decisive move to curb the rising threat of vandalism and protect Nigeria’s critical national infrastructure, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), telecommunications operators and other strategic stakeholders have launched a coordinated security collaboration in Edo State.
The high-level stakeholders’ engagement, convened by the Edo State Command of the NSCDC on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, focused on strengthening the protection of electricity transmission facilities and fibre optic infrastructure from vandalism, illegal excavation and accidental damage that continue to threaten essential public services.
The meeting brought together key players from the power, telecommunications, construction and public sectors to develop practical measures aimed at safeguarding infrastructure that underpins electricity supply, digital connectivity and economic activities across the country.
Representing the Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Principal Manager, Telecommunications, Engr. Onya W. Chukwuma, described Benin as one of Nigeria’s strategic electricity transmission hubs, stressing that TCN’s network plays a critical role in delivering power across several regions of the country.
He explained that the company’s transmission towers not only carry high-voltage electricity but also support fibre optic telecommunications infrastructure, making them indispensable national assets.
According to him, any act of vandalism against the transmission towers could simultaneously disrupt electricity supply and telecommunications services while exposing surrounding communities to significant safety hazards.
Engr. Chukwuma commended the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for its sustained commitment to protecting TCN’s facilities and called for stronger synergy among security agencies, telecommunications companies, construction firms and other stakeholders to ensure continuous surveillance and rapid response to threats.
In his remarks, the Edo State Commandant of the NSCDC, Akintayo Saidi Ayinla, reaffirmed the Corps’ unwavering commitment to safeguarding critical national assets and infrastructure.
He expressed concern over the increasing incidents of fibre optic cable cuts caused by excavation activities and revealed that the Command had arrested 25 suspects linked to offences involving damage to critical infrastructure.
The Commandant stressed that protecting national infrastructure requires collective responsibility, urging all operators and contractors to observe due diligence before embarking on excavation works that could affect underground communication facilities.
A major outcome of the meeting was the resolution by stakeholders to establish a dedicated WhatsApp communication platform to facilitate real-time information sharing, intelligence gathering and prompt coordinated responses whenever incidents involving critical infrastructure occur.
The initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration between security agencies, utility providers and private sector operators, significantly reducing response time to emergencies and enhancing the protection of strategic national assets.
Among those present at the engagement were representatives of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), MTN Nigeria, Airtel, Globacom (Glo), T2 Mobile, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), construction companies, the Fiber Optic Cable Maintenance Engineers Association, as well as officials from relevant federal and Edo State government agencies.
The renewed partnership signals a proactive national effort to secure Nigeria’s power transmission and telecommunications infrastructure against growing security threats, while reinforcing the country’s commitment to uninterrupted electricity supply, digital connectivity and sustainable economic development.
