Nigeria: Power Grid Vandalism Committee Formed by Minister Tegbe

• Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has established a ministerial committee to combat the widespread vandalism of Nigeria's power infrastructure.
• The committee, comprising security agencies and electricity sector stakeholders, aims to coordinate responses, enforce laws, and deploy technology to protect assets.
• The government considers the protection of electricity assets a national security priority, aligning the committee's efforts with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
• Participants in the inaugural meeting resolved to prosecute offenders, enforce existing laws, and intensify public awareness campaigns.
• In the first half of 2025, 42 vandalism incidents affected 178 transmission towers, underscoring the significant challenge faced by the power sector.

The government has underscored its position that safeguarding electricity assets is a national security priority, a stance reinforced by the committee's alignment with the critical infrastructure unit of the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Nigeria's Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has recently established a high-level ministerial committee aimed at addressing the persistent issue of power infrastructure vandalism across the nation. This initiative comes in response to continuous attacks on electricity assets, which have severely disrupted power supply and necessitated the government to expend billions of naira on repairs.

The newly formed committee comprises representatives from various security agencies and key stakeholders within the electricity sector. Its primary objective is to formulate a cohesive strategy to counter assaults on generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. The mandate includes the rigorous enforcement of existing laws, the strategic deployment of technology for critical infrastructure protection, and the implementation of public awareness campaigns to deter future incidents.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Power, this action is part of ongoing efforts to ensure a consistent and dependable electricity supply for households, businesses, and industries throughout Nigeria. The committee's formation directly addresses the detrimental impact of these attacks, which not only interrupt consumer supply but also escalate repair expenses and undermine essential investments required for the sector's growth and stability. Furthermore, the committee is tasked with clearly defining the specific contributions and responsibilities of each participating institution to foster a sustained and coordinated approach to infrastructure protection.

The inaugural meeting of the committee saw the participation of several high-ranking officials, including the Special Adviser to the President on Homeland Security, Major General Adeyinka A. Famadewa, directors from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Also present were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power and various directors from the ministry and other relevant agencies.

Crucially, the committee's work will be closely integrated with the critical infrastructure unit operating under the Office of the National Security Adviser. This alignment underscores the government's firm position that safeguarding electricity assets is a national security priority. During the meeting, participants deliberated on various preventative measures and outlined the specific duties of their respective offices and agencies.

Key resolutions from the meeting included a commitment to strictly enforce current laws against vandalism, ensure the prosecution of all offenders, utilize advanced technology to protect national assets, and intensify public sensitisation and advocacy efforts to prevent attacks before they occur. All attendees pledged their collective commitment to eradicating this menace.

The pervasive nature of power infrastructure vandalism has raised significant concerns regarding the substantial costs associated with repeatedly repairing assets that are vital for improving electricity delivery. This ongoing challenge diverts resources that could otherwise be invested in enhancing the national grid.

Illustrating the severity of the issue, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported in June 2025 that 42 incidents of vandalism occurred in the first half of that year alone. These attacks collectively impacted 178 transmission towers across different regions of the country, highlighting the immense difficulties faced by TCN. The committee is scheduled to reconvene in the coming week to assess the progress made and evaluate the implementation of the proposed measures, signaling a proactive approach to tackling this critical national challenge.

Lawyers advising clients in the Nigerian power sector should review existing regulations on infrastructure protection and prepare for increased enforcement actions against vandalism, especially given the national security priority assigned to electricity assets and the committee's mandate to prosecute offenders.

Source: Original reporting via The Punch