11/08/2026
*FIVE IPC TRANSMISSION TOWERS COLLAPSE ALONG ONNA–MKPAT ENIN CORRIDOR, RAISING QUESTIONS OVER SECURITY AND MAINTENANCE*
_Uko Callistus_
_11082026_
Five transmission towers along the Onna–Mkpat Enin right of way have reportedly collapsed following suspected vandalism, raising fresh concerns over the security, maintenance and monitoring of critical electricity infrastructure in Akwa Ibom State.
The affected facilities are connected to the transmission network serving Ibom Power Company (IPC), a strategic power asset owned by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
While vandalism has been identified as the immediate cause of the collapse, concerns from communities along the corridor suggest that the incident may have exposed deeper weaknesses in the protection and maintenance of the transmission infrastructure.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which is responsible for the transmission network, is now facing questions over the level of surveillance and maintenance provided along the corridor.
Although host communities are expected to assist in protecting infrastructure located within their territories, stakeholders argue that there has not been sufficient collaboration between TCN and the communities on security and surveillance.
They contend that a structured partnership involving community-based surveillance, regular patrols, intelligence sharing and direct communication with TCN could help prevent vandalism and enable faster response to suspicious activities.
Another major concern is the condition of the transmission right of way. Information obtained from concerned citizens indicates that parts of the corridor have reportedly not been regularly cleared, with overgrown vegetation making access, inspection and monitoring more difficult.
The development is particularly troubling because a similar incident reportedly occurred in Ete community last year, after which concerned citizens drew the attention of the relevant authorities to the vulnerability of the facilities along the transmission corridor.
According to stakeholders, despite that intervention, sections of the right of way have continued to experience vegetation overgrowth and inadequate security monitoring.
This raises a fundamental question: what corrective measures were implemented after the Ete incident, and why has a similar vulnerability allegedly persisted?
There are also questions concerning the funding of maintenance and surveillance activities. Information supplied to this reporter alleges that government funds are released for the clearing, maintenance and protection of transmission infrastructure, but that there may be gaps between funds allocated, contractors engaged and the actual work executed on the ground.
These allegations have not been independently verified and should not be treated as established facts. However, they warrant clarification from the relevant authorities.
Who is responsible for clearing the Onna–Mkpat Enin right of way? When was it last cleared? Who was contracted to undertake the work, and how frequently is it supposed to be carried out? What surveillance arrangement exists along the corridor, and were resources provided for it?
More importantly, what system exists to verify that contractors paid to maintain and protect critical transmission infrastructure actually perform the work?
The collapse of five towers makes these questions particularly urgent.
Stakeholders are calling for the establishment of a permanent surveillance network involving TCN, host communities and relevant security agencies. Such an arrangement could provide local intelligence while ensuring that the statutory responsibility for the transmission infrastructure remains with TCN.
The situation also has implications for Ibom Power Company. Information made available to this reporter indicates that IPC has outstanding obligations to the transmission company. If confirmed, the matter deserves urgent attention from the Akwa Ibom State Government, given its ownership of IPC and its wider interest in protecting the state's power infrastructure.
The state government should therefore engage TCN and other relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the collapse and ensure that both the financial and infrastructure-related issues affecting the transmission arrangement are addressed.
TCN should also explain when the affected towers were last inspected, when the right of way was last cleared, what security arrangements were in place before the incident and what measures were implemented following the reported Ete occurrence.
The immediate priority is, of course, to restore the damaged infrastructure. But reconstruction alone will not solve the problem if the conditions that allegedly allowed the vandalism to occur remain unchanged.
The Onna–Mkpat Enin incident should therefore trigger a comprehensive review of the transmission corridor, including the condition of the right of way, security arrangements, community engagement, maintenance contracts and the utilisation of funds allocated for such purposes.
The collapse of five transmission towers should not be treated merely as another case of vandalism.
It is a warning that critical electricity infrastructure cannot be adequately protected without proper maintenance, effective surveillance, community cooperation and transparent accountability.
The authorities must act now—not only to rebuild what has fallen, but to ensure that the same vulnerabilities do not bring down another transmission tower tomorrow.
