The Nigerian Government has announced that a total of N8.8 billion was spent to repair and restore power towers destroyed by vandals in different parts of the country in 2024.
Ahmed Abdulaziz, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, disclosed this information during the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bolaji Tunji, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, noted that the government has yet to convict arrested vandals, as they are often released on bail by the Nigerian Police.
Abdulaziz, who was represented by Engr. Olugbenga Ajiboye, the Executive Director of TCN Transmission Service Provider, indicated that 128 transmission towers have been either vandalized or targeted by bandits throughout the country from January to November 2024.
He expressed concern that those apprehended are quickly granted bail, allowing them to resume their illegal activities and cause further damage to the essential transmission infrastructure within the nation.
“As I talk to you today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits. To date, we have spent about N8.8bn, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use.”
“It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to the police for prosecution, police would arrest them for theft instead of vandalism, and they would be bailed. If they are charged for vandalism, they cannot be bailed, but this is where we are. So many of them have been arrested, but each time they will be bailed because police often incident their cases as that of theft.
“When the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna towers were destroyed, we had to get the full military escorts for our contractors to get the transmission lines and towers restored, and in some cases, they would tell us that we could only work for two hours in some days.
“In some instances, they would even tell us that it was not safe to move there. How do we get out of this? How can we deliver electricity to Nigerians under these terrible circumstances? These are part of the challenges we are facing in the power sector”, Abdulaziz said.
