FG Moves to Stem Vandalism in Power Sector, Inaugurates C’ttee

The Nigerian federal government has taken decisive action to curb vandalism targeting the country's electricity infrastructure, establishing a ministerial committee to lead the fight against the threats. Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, presided over the inaugural meeting of the committee in Abuja, convening security agencies and government institutions to devise a unified strategy for safeguarding assets throughout the electricity value chain.

The statement from the ministry revealed that the committee was formed in response to repeated attacks on generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure, which disrupt power supply to consumers, escalate repair expenses, and diminish the investments crucial to the sector's sustenance. Its duties also encompass determining the role each institution will play in achieving a lasting resolution to the issue.

Recent years have witnessed a surge in vandalism activities, with critical infrastructure frequently under attack. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) documented 42 incidents of vandalism affecting 178 transmission towers during the first half of 2025 alone, emphasizing the susceptibility of infrastructure vital for nationwide electricity delivery.

From January to November 2024, the government incurred a staggering N8.8 billion in repairing 128 vandalized transmission towers, utilizing precious resources meant for network expansion and modernization to restore damaged assets.