Tegbe Holds Inaugural Power Sector Anti-Vandalism Meeting With Security Agencies In Abuja

 

AISHA ABUBAKAR 

The Honourable Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has convened an inaugural Power Sector Anti-Vandalism Meeting with key security and government agencies as part of efforts to guarantee stable and reliable electricity supply for households and businesses across Nigeria.

The meeting, which was held in Abuja, brought together stakeholders from the security sector and the power sector to discuss measures to end the vandalism of power infrastructure across the electricity value chain.

According to the Ministry of Power, the ministerial committee was constituted in response to increasing attacks on generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure in different parts of the country.

The Ministry said such attacks disrupt electricity supply to consumers, increase the cost of repairs and erode investments made in the power sector.

The committee is tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to protect power assets and to define the specific contribution each institution will make toward a lasting solution to the problem.

The inaugural meeting was attended by the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, directors from the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power and directors from the Ministry and relevant agencies under the Ministry.

Officials at the meeting said the committee’s work will be aligned with the critical infrastructure unit of the Office of the National Security Adviser, reinforcing the treatment of power assets as a national security priority.

Participants at the meeting proposed measures to curb vandalism and outlined the role each office and agency will play in protecting power infrastructure.

They resolved to enforce existing laws on vandalism and ensure that offenders are brought to justice.

They also agreed to deploy technology in protecting national assets and to use sensitisation and advocacy campaigns to prevent incidents before they occur.

The meeting further emphasized the need for collaboration between security agencies and power sector operators, including the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, and electricity distribution companies.

All parties at the meeting pledged to work together to bring the menace of vandalism to an end.

The committee is expected to reconvene next week to review progress and agree on implementation timelines for the proposed measures.

Officials said effective implementation of the committee’s resolutions should translate into fewer outages caused by attacks on infrastructure and a more dependable electricity supply for consumers.

It should also strengthen the protection of public and private investments in the power sector.

The Federal Government has repeatedly identified vandalism as a major challenge to power supply. Recent incidents of vandalism on transmission towers and distribution lines have led to power outages in several states.

The Ministry of Power said it remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that power infrastructure is protected and that Nigerians enjoy improved electricity supply.

The meeting is part of broader reforms in the power sector aimed at improving generation, transmission and distribution.