The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to intensify its crackdown on energy thieves and vandals targeting critical power infrastructure across the country.
Tegbe made the call during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where both sides agreed to strengthen tactical collaboration to protect the national grid.
According to a statement issued by the police on Wednesday, the minister stressed the urgent need to secure critical energy infrastructure, noting that widespread electricity theft and the vandalisation of power equipment remained major challenges to achieving reliable electricity supply nationwide.
The minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Power, including the Permanent Secretary, Mahmud Mamman; Director of Distribution, Engr. Mustapha Baba-Umara; Director of Energy Resources, Engr. Kingsley Eneh; and the Special Assistant to the Minister, Martins Olajide.
The discussions focused on security challenges affecting the power sector, particularly the vandalisation of national power infrastructure and widespread energy theft.
Tegbe called for continued support and stronger tactical cooperation from the police to protect power assets nationwide, increase surveillance around critical installations and intensify efforts to apprehend those involved in electricity-related crimes.
In response, IGP Disu assured the minister of the police force’s readiness to protect national grid infrastructure and ensure that those responsible for vandalism and other power sector crimes are brought to justice.
“Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to safeguarding critical national infrastructure, bolstering energy security, and decisively prosecuting perpetrators of power sector crimes,” the statement said.
Nigeria’s power sector continues to suffer significant financial losses as a result of electricity theft and the vandalisation of power lines, transformers and other critical infrastructure, contributing to disruptions in electricity supply and frequent challenges across the national grid.
