Abuja, Jan. 23, 2025 – Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, says the N8 billion allocation in his ministry’s 2025 budget is for advocacy against vandalism and other challenges in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The minister said this on Thursday in a statement issued by Bolaji Tunji, his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations.
He said the purpose of the N8 billion allocation was being misconceived, stressing that the allocation was meant to sensitise Nigerians on the need to show patriotism in their attitudes and conducts towards national assets, especially power infrastructure.
The statement reads in parts: “It is also to enlighten Nigerians on the need to protect and take ownership of the power infrastructure and other national assets.
“This is contrary to claims in some quarters that the money is meant for sensitisation on payment of electricity bills.
“It is important to correct the impression that N8 billion is being proposed for sensitisation on electricity payment.
“We are all aware that in the last few months, acts of vandalism have continued to throw different parts of the country into darkness with vandals planting bombs under power towers, carting away power lines and cables.
“The recent one is the vandalism of underground cables that has thrown many parts of Abuja into darkness. It is therefore important to protect power infrastructure.
“The sensitization programme would also entail the use of electronic platforms such as radio and television, the social media, newspapers, billboards to re-orientate Nigerians on the implications of vandalising power infrastructure.
“It will also require the engagement of the different community stakeholders across the geo-political zones in town hall meetings; engaging local security men to protect such assets.
“This will also involve the deployment of technology to safeguard these assets.
“The ministry will also embark on some Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects across many of the host communities to our power installations to motivate and encourage them on the protection of power infrastructure by local hunters and security personnel.
“All these will cost so much. More specifically, the advocacy will take us to all the nooks and crannies of the country. We will hold meetings with the leaders, stakeholders and youths.
“It cost the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) more than N9 billion to bring back the transmission towers and lines destroyed by the terrorists on the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line, which threw parts of northern Nigeria into darkness in 2025.
“It is our belief that the advocacy we are proposing will be able to redirect the minds of those who are bent on taking us backward in our effort to provide efficient, effective, and uninterrupted electricity to Nigerians.
“Only last weekend, almost half of Abuja was thrown into darkness as a result of the activities of vandals. The history of vandalism of the nation’s power infrastructure is legendary.
“However, in the recent years, it has escalated and in the over one year, it has continued to increase at an alarming rate. We have suffered sustained and more violent attacks on our infrastructure.”
