Minister Calls for 'Power Rangers' to Safeguard Nigeria's Grid
Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has issued a call for the establishment of "power rangers" to ensure the protection of Nigeria's power infrastructure. This comes as the government sounds a stern warning to tower vandals, urging them to cease their destructive activities or face the consequences.
In a recent address at the Passing Out Parade and inauguration of the second batch of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo described the ongoing vandalism of power infrastructure as "economic terrorism" that requires stringent action. He emphasized the need to safeguard the nation's power sector, which is crucial for Nigeria's growth and development.
The minister urged the Commandant General of the NSCDC to set up a specialized squad dedicated to the task of protecting power distribution lines, generation companies (Gencos), and other critical power sector assets. Tunji-Ojo stressed that it is unacceptable for Nigeria to spend billions of dollars on power infrastructure only to have it vandalized, as no country can thrive without a functioning power sector.
The minister's call for "power rangers" is a direct response to the recent incidents of tower vandalism. On Wednesday, two towers, T193 and T194, along the 330 kilovolts single circuit transmission line were destroyed by vandals. This followed a similar attack on December 28, 2023, when three towers, T193, T194, and T195, were destroyed using improvised explosive devices in Borno State.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized the need for the NSCDC to play a crucial role in safeguarding the power sector, stating that the solution lies in the sectorization of their responsibilities. The minister also assured Nigerians that the government is committed to winning the war against illegal mining, noting that the revenue from the solid mineral sector has improved, and security in the mines has been enhanced.
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, who was represented by the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Mary Ogbe, also warned illegal miners to formalize their activities through the formation of cooperatives, or face the consequences of prosecution for land degradation and illegal operations.
