By Tochukwu Bliss, Abuja
The Federal Government yesterday said it has spent about N8.8 billion on the repair of vandalized transmission towers across the country.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji.
The statement quoted the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, as revealing this on Tuesday at the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group Meeting in Abuja.
Mr Abdulaziz, who was said to have been represented by Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSO), Olugbenga Ajiboye, informed that between January 13 and now, 128 transmission towers had been destroyed either by vandals or bandits, across the country.
He however noted that the culprits went away scot-free, even when they were apprehended and handed over to the Police.
The statement reads further: “As I talk to you today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits.
“Till date, we have spent about N8.8 billion, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use.
“It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to the Police for prosecution; the Police would charge them for theft, instead of vandalism and they would be bailed.
“If they are charged for vandalism, they cannot be bailed, but this is where we are. So, many of them have been arrested, but each time they will be bailed because police often charge their cases as that of theft.”
Mr Abdulaziz also recalled that when the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna towers were destroyed, TCN had to get full military escorts for its contractors to get the transmission lines and towers restored.
He added: “In some instances, they would even tell us that it was not safe to move there. How do we get out of this? How can we deliver electricity to Nigerians under these terrible circumstances?
“These are part of the challenges we are facing in the power sector,” he said.
It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to the Police for prosecution; the Police would charge them for theft, instead of vandalism and they would be bailed.
