Tegbe partners Police to safeguard power infrastructure, tackle vandalism

In a bid to curb widespread vandalisation threatening Nigeria’s electricity sector, the Federal Ministry of Power has entered into a partnership deal with the Nigeria Police Force to establish a dedicated Joint Task Force to protect critical power assets across the country.

The strategic partnership was reached on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by Joseph Tegbe, Minister of Power, to Tunji Disu, Inspector-General of Police, IGP at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking during the executive engagement, which included the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and senior management officials, Tegbe identified infrastructure vandalisation as a central bottleneck impeding energy sector productivity and supply reliability.

He called for intensified Police surveillance around high-risk grid installations and reinforced inter-agency collaboration to mitigate revenue and operational losses.

In his remarks, Disu reiterated the Force’s commitment to securing critical national infrastructure, bolstering energy security, and enforcing strict legal deterrence through the swift prosecution of asset vandals.

Disu confirmed the Police leadership’s readiness to co-create the proposed Task Force, pledging sustained tactical protection for both power sector infrastructure and field personnel who frequently operate in vulnerable environments.

The alliance aligns with broader inter-agency efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to stabilize national grid operations and build investor confidence through enhanced asset protection.

The Nigerian power sector, over the years has continue to suffer from the impact of vandals attack on power infrastructure. With over 276 cases recorded from 2022 to 2025.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in May this year, reported several incidents of robbery attack on Ogbomosho Transmission Substation, and the Offa 132kV Transmission Substation in Osogbo Region, which led to the declaration of force majeure on the facility.

On both cases, the company stated that the station was invaded by armed men who forcefully gained access to the control room and held all personnel on duty hostage at gunpoint.

“The attackers ordered the operator on duty to open both the Offa and Ojoku 33kV feeders at exactly 12:45 a.m. on Thursday, 7th May 2026. They further demanded a total shutdown of the substation. During the incident, control switches and relay buttons were tampered with, and the 40MVA transformer was opened at approximately 1:07 am.” TCN stated.