FG spends N8.8bn to restore vandalised energy towers – TCN

The Federal Authorities has confirmed that it spent a complete sum of N8.8bn for the restore and restoration of transmission towers that had been vandalised throughout varied areas of the nation in 2024.

The Managing Director and Chief Government Officer of the Transition Firm of Nigeria, Ahmed Abdulaziz, revealed this on the Quarterly Energy Sector Working Group assembly in Abuja.

The Particular Adviser to the Minister of Power on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, in an announcement signed on Wednesday, mentioned the federal government is but to attain prosecution of arrested vandals as they’re often launched on bail by the Nigerian Police.

Abdulaziz, who was represented by the Government Director, TCN Transmission Service Supplier, Engr. Olugbenga Ajiboye revealed that 128 transmission towers have been destroyed both by vandals or bandits, throughout the nation between January and November 2024.

He additional lamented that apprehended perpetrators are being granted bail, enabling them to return to their unlawful actions and wreaking havoc on the very important transmission infrastructure within the nation.

“As I speak to you right this moment, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by both vandals or bandits. So far, we have now spent about N8.8bn, by our estimation, to place them again to full and useful use.”

He defined that when the vandals had been apprehended and handed over to police for prosecution, they had been bailed based mostly on theft and never vandalism.

“It’s so unhappy that every time the vandals had been caught and brought to the police for prosecution, police would arrest them for theft as a substitute of vandalism, and they’d be bailed. If they’re charged for vandalism, they can’t be bailed, however that is the place we’re. So a lot of them have been arrested, however every time they are going to be bailed as a result of police usually incident their instances as that of theft.

“When the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna towers had been destroyed, we needed to get the complete navy escorts for our contractors to get the transmission traces and towers restored, and in some instances, they might inform us that we might solely work for 2 hours in some days.

“In some cases, they might even inform us that it was not secure to maneuver there. How will we get out of this? How can we ship electrical energy to Nigerians underneath these horrible circumstances? These are a part of the challenges we face within the energy sector”, Abdulaziz mentioned.