THE Federal Government has confirmed that it spent N8.8 billion on the repair and restoration of transmission towers vandalized across various regions of the country in 2024.
This announcement was made by the Managing Director and CEO of the Transition Company of Nigeria, Ahmed Abdulaziz, during the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja.
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, stated in a signed statement yesterday that the government is yet to secure prosecutions against arrested vandals, as they are typically released on bail by the Nigerian Police.
Abdulaziz, represented by Engr. Olugbenga Ajiboye, Executive Director of TCN Transmission Service Provider, reported that 128 transmission towers have been destroyed by vandals or bandits between January and November 2024.
He expressed concern that those apprehended are often granted bail, allowing them to return to their illegal activities, which continue to threaten vital transmission infrastructure in the country.
“As of today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits. To date, we estimate that we have spent about N8.8 billion to restore them to full functionality,” Abdulaziz said.
He explained that when vandals are caught and handed over to the police, they will be charged with theft rather than vandalism, which allows them to be bailed.
“It is unfortunate that every time vandals are arrested and taken to the police, they are charged with theft instead of vandalism and subsequently released on bail. If they were charged with vandalism, they would not be eligible for bail. Many have been arrested, but they keep getting released because the police classify their cases as theft.
“When the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna towers were damaged, we had to secure full military escorts for our contractors to restore the transmission lines and towers, and at times, we were told we could only work for two hours on certain days.
“In some cases, we were advised that it was unsafe to proceed. How do we overcome this? How can we provide electricity to Nigerians under these challenging conditions? These are some of the difficulties we face in the power sector,” Abdulaziz added.
