Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, says vandals of power infrastructure should face capital punishment.
Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi state, made the remark on
Wednesday during plenary before the senate passed the Electricity Act (Amendment)
Bill, 2025, for second reading.
He commended the senate committee on power for doing a “very
good job” on the bill.
“This is a detailed and comprehensive work. It addresses all the issues involved in the distribution, generation, and even transmission of power in Nigeria,” he said.
‘FG BEARING THE COST OF PRIVATISED POWER’
Aliero said he was particularly concerned about the issue of
debt incurred by the federal government on behalf of private power firms.
“In particular, Mr President, I take special note on the
issue of debt, which the federal government is shouldering on behalf of DisCos
and GenCos,” he said.
“Mr President, we have privatised power, and yet trillions
and trillions of naira have been spent.
“And it is done on behalf of GenCos and DisCos. They were
given these assets, believing that they have all it takes to ensure that they
generate and distribute power.
“But the federal government is bearing the cost, so the bill
has really addressed this issue.”
Aliero said the vandalisation of power infrastructure has
worsened the country’s energy crisis.
“Several power installations in this country have been
vandalised by vandals,” he said.
“In particular, I know Shiroro was not working for over three
months. Kainji was not working for over three months, also.
“The chief whip has mentioned that the north-east was in
blackout for over six months. Mr President, it’s high time we penalise the
vandals.
“Strict penalties should be imposed on these vandals, if
impossible, we should give them capital punishment, not only sentencing them to
jail time.
“But we should ensure that they are sent to the gallows.
Maybe it will serve as a deterrence, as the chief whip has said.”
‘VANDALISM NOT LIMITED TO POWER INFRASTRUCTURE’
Aliero said the problem of vandalism extends beyond the
power sector.
“Mr President, it’s not only in power. Even here in Abuja,
if you go around our streets, you will see a lot of manholes being removed by
vandals. It’s shameful. This is a national capital,” he said.
“And these vandals are caught, and they are sent to the
police station. The next day, they are released.
“We have to punish these vandals. If we don’t do that, this
will continue. These are national assets that need to be protected. If we don’t
protect the national assets, what are we doing here?”
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