Tegbe convenes security and power agencies to tackle electricity vandalism

Power Minister Joseph Tegbe has convened a committee of security agencies and electricity-sector institutions to coordinate protection of generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure against vandalism.

The committee will define what each participating institution should do to prevent attacks and protect installations, rather than leaving agencies to respond separately after damage occurs.

The Ministry of Power announced the initiative in a Friday statement reported by Punch. It said attacks disrupt supply, increase repair costs and weaken investment in the electricity network.

Participants at the inaugural meeting agreed to enforce existing laws, pursue prosecution of offenders, deploy technology to protect assets and expand public awareness campaigns against vandalism.

Those present included presidential homeland security adviser Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, directors from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and officials of the Power Ministry and its agencies.

The ministry said the committee’s work would be coordinated with the critical infrastructure unit in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria reported in June 2025 that 42 vandalism incidents in the first half of that year had affected 178 transmission towers. The affected regions included Abuja, Bauchi, Enugu, Shiroro, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Then-power minister Adebayo Adelabu said in January 2025 that more than N9 billion had been spent restoring vandalised electricity infrastructure in northern Nigeria during 2024.

The committee is scheduled to meet again next week to review progress on the measures agreed at its inaugural meeting.

Source: Punch