By Hosea Parah, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has invested around N8.8 billion in repairing transmission towers that have been vandalized nationwide, as announced by the Ministry of Power on Tuesday, November 26, 2024. This information was shared by Engr. Suleiman Ahmed Abdulaziz, the Managing Director and CEO of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), during the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting held in Abuja.
Engr. Abdulaziz, represented by Engr. Olugbenga Emmanuel Ajiboye, the Executive Director of the Transmission Service Provider (TSO) at TCN, detailed that from January 13, 2024, to date, a total of 128 transmission towers have been destroyed by vandals and bandits. He expressed concern that while some suspects have been arrested, they are often released due to inadequate legal proceedings. He pointed out that charges of theft are commonly filed instead of vandalism, which allows the perpetrators to secure bail and continue their destructive behavior.
The TCN chief also noted that the repair operations have been hindered by significant security challenges, citing instances where military escorts were necessary for the restoration of transmission lines. In some cases, workers could only operate for limited periods or were entirely prevented from working due to safety risks.
On the other hand, Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu, represented by his Chief Technical Adviser, Mr. Adedayo Olowoniyi, discussed the government’s partnership with the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to tackle Nigeria’s electricity access deficit. This initiative, dubbed Mission 300, aims to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, with Nigeria expected to benefit 50 million individuals. The Minister announced that the Compact document for the project will be signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Tanzania in January 2025.
Adelabu acknowledged that extending the grid may not be viable in all regions due to funding and commercial challenges. However, he reaffirmed the government’s dedication to supplying electricity to underserved communities through solar systems, mini and micro grids, as well as feasible grid extensions.
This ambitious initiative seeks to enhance electricity access for millions of Nigerians who currently experience unreliable power supply, contributing to the broader objective of increasing energy access throughout Africa.