Minister Joseph Tegbe Leads New Committee Against Power Vandalism

The federal government has initiated measures to enhance security around electricity infrastructure by forming a ministerial committee aimed at combating vandalism, which has been responsible for ongoing power disruptions and expensive repairs. The inaugural meeting of the committee was convened by Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe in Abuja, bringing together various security agencies and government institutions to devise a coordinated strategy for safeguarding assets across the electricity value chain.

The committee was established in response to attacks on generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure that disrupt supply, increase repair costs, and undermine sector investments. The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reported 42 vandalism incidents affecting 178 transmission towers in the first half of 2025, underscoring the vulnerability of critical infrastructure.

From January to November 2024, the government allocated N8.8 billion for the repair of 128 vandalized transmission towers, diverting essential resources from network expansion and modernization efforts.