Repair of vandalised transmission towers cost N8.8bn – FG

he Federal Government has disclosed that a staggering N8.8 billion has been allocated for the repair and restoration of power transmission towers across Nigeria, which were ravaged by vandals and bandits.

This announcement was made by the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Suleiman Ahmed Abdulaziz, during the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja.

Engr. Abdulaziz, accompanied by the Executive Director of Transmission Service Provider (TSO), Engr. Olugbenga Emmanuel Ajiboye, revealed that a total of 128 transmission towers have been destroyed since January 13, 2024. He expressed his frustration over the recurring acts of vandalism, despite the arrests of the culprits, highlighting the significant challenge of ineffective prosecution as a major obstacle.

“Till date, we have spent about N8.8 billion, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use,” Abdulaziz said. “It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to police for prosecution, police would incident them for theft instead of vandalism, and they will be bailed. If they are charged for vandalism, they cannot be bailed, but this is where we are.”

Highlighting the severity of the situation, Abdulaziz noted the challenges faced during the restoration of the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna transmission towers. “We had to get full military escorts for our contractors to restore the transmission lines and towers. In some cases, they would only allow us to work for two hours a day, and at times, they declared the area unsafe for operations. How can we deliver electricity to Nigerians under these terrible circumstances?”

Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, represented by Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, outlined the government’s plans to collaborate with international partners to enhance electricity access. He revealed ongoing efforts with the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to electrify 50 million Nigerians by 2030 as part of the broader “Mission 300” initiative, which aims to bring electricity to 300 million Africans.

“Nigeria has a large population that is without electricity, and this is a great opportunity for us to be part of this process,” Adelabu said. He added that the government’s strategy involves public and private sector partnerships focusing on solar systems, mini and micro grids, and grid extensions.

The Minister also announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is set to sign the Compact document for the Mission 300 project in Tanzania in January 2025. “The most important thing is that we have to drive the process by ourselves,” he emphasized.

The Nigerian power sector continues to face numerous challenges, including acts of vandalism, banditry, and inadequate infrastructure. The Federal Government has also been criticized for its insufficient security measures around critical power assets.