The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has urged Northern governors to take decisive action against the vandalism of electricity infrastructure. His call follows repeated incidents of transmission tower vandalism in the North East.
Adelabu made these remarks during a visit to the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC) to evaluate its performance and address key issues aimed at enhancing service delivery. Earlier, he inspected the ongoing 215 Kaduna Power Plant project and the 2X 42MW (ISO) gas-based power plant.
Expressing concern over the impact of asset vandalism on the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), Adelabu disclosed collaborative efforts with the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Federal Ministry of Interior, and other security agencies to curb this menace.
He emphasized, “Vandalism, particularly of transmission power assets, high voltage cables, and transformers, has significantly disrupted electricity stability, especially in Northern regions. We are working closely with security agencies to put an end to this.”
Adelabu also called upon governors, especially in Northern Nigeria, to confront this threat to power infrastructure security, asserting that stable electricity supply hinges on their proactive measures.
Regarding the 215MW Kaduna Power Plant project, he projected its completion by the first quarter of 2025. He mentioned challenges, including legal issues requiring intervention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prior to ministry involvement, which facilitated the return of Rockson International Limited, the contractor, to the site.
The minister indicated that the Federal Government is exploring options such as issuing a letter of credit to ensure project continuity. Upon completion, the plant is expected to add 215MW to the national grid.
Adelabu expressed optimism about the project’s progress, highlighting its current 87% completion status and the ministry’s commitment to supporting the contractor in meeting deadlines. He affirmed confidence in achieving the project’s goals by the specified timeline, thereby enhancing Nigeria’s electricity generation capacity.
