Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has inaugurated a high-level committee bringing together security agencies and electricity sector stakeholders to tackle the growing menace of vandalism against power infrastructure.
The move follows repeated attacks on transmission towers, cables, and other critical assets that have disrupted electricity supply nationwide and cost the government billions of naira in repairs.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Power, the committee’s mandate includes enforcing existing laws against vandalism, deploying technology to safeguard installations, and intensifying public awareness campaigns to deter future attacks.
“Protecting electricity assets is a national security priority,” the ministry emphasized.The inaugural meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka Famadewa, representatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and directors from the Ministry of Power.
Participants resolved to strengthen collaboration, prosecute offenders, and align efforts with the critical infrastructure unit of the National Security Adviser’s office.
The committee will reconvene next week to assess progress and refine strategies.The scale of vandalism has become alarming. In 2025 alone, the Transmission Company of Nigeria reported 42 incidents in six months, affecting 178 towers across regions including Abuja, Bauchi, Enugu, Shiroro, Kano, and Port Harcourt.
Former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu disclosed that over ₦9 billion was spent in 2024 restoring vandalized infrastructure in northern Nigeria.
Beyond the financial burden, vandalism undermines electricity delivery even when generation plants are producing power, as damaged lines prevent transmission to distribution companies.
The theft of tower components and cables further exposes installations to cascading failures.
By prioritizing prevention over costly repairs, Tegbe’s initiative aims to reduce outages, protect investments, and strengthen Nigeria’s fragile electricity network.
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