VANDALISM OF POWER ASSETS
All critical stakeholders should do more to protect our vital equipment
As the nation continues to grapple with persistent power outages and unreliable electricity supply, this most critical sector is currently beset by the twin problems of theft and vandalism of transformers and power-line cables. At the inauguration of a 300KWp Solar PV pilot project in Kainji, Niger State, last week, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu expressed concerns over the frequent destruction of electricity assets nationwide. “What is the essence of government and private companies expending resources on these power facilities while some elements within the society will deliberately move to destroy these national assets?” Adelabu asked. “We should take it as a personal and collective responsibility to protect the infrastructure.”
It is unfortunate that as the nation remains overburdened with the quest for improved and steady power supply, there are unpatriotic elements hell-bent on sabotaging government efforts. It is therefore time that the authorities took serious measures against these criminals. The immediate consequence of this criminality is that life is made more difficult for law abiding citizens. Also, the nation’s economy is seriously threatened as industries are being shut down and employees laid off because companies cannot meet production targets as many operate below their installed capacity.
While we lament this deplorable situation, it must be stated that the menace of equipment vandals persists because of the existence of some “market” for the stolen items. Obviously, no criminal would be foolish enough to take the risk of stealing whole transformers and power-line cables without having an assured off-taker market somewhere ready to buy such equipment. Sometimes these stolen transformers and other equipment turn up for resupply by contractors in the sector. After all, no single individual can afford the purchase and installation of such specialised equipment without the active connivance of the officials.
Unfortunately, this is a common story across the country as managers of the DISCOs make strenuous efforts to cope with equipment vandalism. So endemic is this challenge that except drastic action is taken to contain the menace, the challenge of the power sector will persist. On annual basis, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) announces loss of several billions of Naira to this sabotage, including the ones deliberately inflicted by insurgents in the Northeast part of the country.
To the extent that what we are dealing with is a serious crime that borders on economic sabotage, the security agencies should be up and doing in apprehending the hoodlums and bringing them to justice. We also call on the host communities to help by way of real-time intelligence and information to the security agencies. Criminals come from within the communities and when they realise that they would be exposed by their kinsmen they would certainly have a second thought. Community leaders should therefore consider it a patriotic duty to join in the fight against the vandalism of electricity equipment.
It is incumbent on all the critical stakeholders to come up with a solution that will work. Communities must be vigilant in keeping a close eye on this equipment within their neighbourhoods, even for the sake of their own enlightened self-interest. We must protect these vital assets of the nation from the grip of criminals.
