The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has stated lack of debt payment of N457bn owed by stakeholders in the electricity sector is affecting its ability to perform optimally.

Speaking during a workshop for Power correspondent yesterday, TCN’s Executive Director of Transmission System Provider, TSP, Engr Oluwagbenga Ajiboye, said the heavy debt that has rocked the power sector is also affecting the transmission subsector.

It would be recalled that the Association of Power Generating Companies (APGA), had in May threatened to shut down tools over the N4trn owed by the Federal government in subsidy and legacy debt.

The legacy debt that was incurred after the privatisation and breakdown of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria has continued to prevent investments in the sector.

Speaking during the event, Engr Ajiboye said as of March 2025, the TCN is owed N217bn as legacy debt with the remaining being from services it rendered to electricity Distribution Companies.

He added that despite the agency being able to secure funding from international Development agencies, it still faces the challenges of Right of Way to access some communities transmission lines will pass through.

He added that when the projects are abandoned for the litigation to end, sometimes they are vandalised and it becomes a set back.

“Vandalism became heightened last year when we spent close to N9bn. These encumbrances have continued to affect the grid expansion.

On his part, the Managing Director of TSC, Engr Sule Abdulaziz, said the workshop was organised to strengthen the capacity of reporters covering the sector.