FG Moves to Stem Vandalism in Power Sector, Inaugurates C’ttee
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja The federal government has moved to strengthen security around electricity infrastructure, with the setting up of a ministerial committee to coordinate the fight against vandalism, blamed for
The Nigerian federal government has taken action to curb vandalism in the power sector, establishing a ministerial committee to coordinate efforts against the issue. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe convened the inaugural meeting of the committee in Abuja, which brought together security agencies and government institutions to devise a comprehensive strategy for safeguarding the country's electricity infrastructure.
The committee's formation comes in response to numerous attacks on generation, transmission, and distribution assets that cause power outages, inflate repair costs, and hinder sector investments. Over recent years, vandals have inflicted considerable damage on Nigeria's power infrastructure. For example, the Transmission Company of Nigeria recorded 42 vandalism incidents affecting 178 transmission towers in the first half of 2025 alone.
Between January and November 2024, the government spent N8.8 billion repairing 128 vandalized transmission towers, diverting funds from network development and modernization. The committee's founding members, including the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, agreed to align their work with the Office of the National Security Adviser and employ technology to secure critical installations.
They also resolved to enforce existing laws against vandalism and intensify public awareness campaigns to discourage attacks. The committee aims to coordinate its initiatives and ensure successful prosecution of offenders, with the next meeting scheduled to evaluate progress and refine implementation strategies.
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