By Aduragbemi Omiyale
President Bola Tinubu has summoned the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, over the prolonged blackout in the northern part of Nigeria for more than a week.
For over eight days, the region has been in darkness as a result of damage to the Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines.
In a statement on Monday night by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed concern over the issue, directing a long-term solution to the problem.
Mr Tinubu noted that he was not happy with the reports of vandalism and wilful destruction of power infrastructure and other public assets that caused the unfortunate blackout.
He charged engineers of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) not to relent in bringing immediate relief to the people who need electricity to sustain their social and economic activities.
To ensure that restoration work continues unhindered, the President directed Mr Ribadu to work with the Army and Air Force to deploy adequate security personnel, including aerial cover, to protect the engineers who are fixing the damaged transmission line.
He tasked traditional rulers, community leaders, and other leaders of thought to work with security agencies to protect public assets and infrastructure, stressing that the government will no longer condone deliberate sabotage and destruction of public utilities.