…Takes sensitization campaign to Niger, others
By Dele Ogbodo
In its renewed and collective fight against vandalism of the nation’s critical power infrastructure, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), on Tuesday February 4, 2025, reinvigorated its war machinery and strategy against power lines and electricity infrastructure vandalisation, which the Company admitted has become rampart in recent times.
At the forefront of TCN team and staff leading the campaign drive, is the General Manager, Transmission, Engr. Musa Shuaibu, who addressed the different communities and stakeholders in Gurara local government communities of Niger State and adjoining settlements at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
While addressing the people in local dialects in company of Assistant General Manager, Mr. Billy Akau, he solicited for their understanding and deep collaboration to defeat the vandals, stressing: “It takes communities nationwide to secure electricity installations, as the fight is not one person’s job.
He urged the communities and the local vigilante members to join in the fight against vandalism even as he explained that any suspicious movements around power lines must be report to DSS, Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) immediately, adding that TCN can be reached on: 08080658374 for action.
The General Manager, acknowledged that the sensitization drive in Abuja, Gwagwalada both of FCT, Lokoja axis in Kogi State and in Niger State, reiterated that TCN management is determined to bring the worrisome act to a halt.
According to him, every act of vandalism plunges communities, even states into darkness with negative consequences.
He said: “We have being mandated by the Corporate Management of TCN to take this sensitization message to both urban and rural communities where these destruction acts are rife.”
After several meetings with the community heads, religious leaders and vigilante groups, he acknowledged that TCN is cognizance of the presence of DSS, the Police and the NSCDC that are on the ground.
He added: “We are here even to rejuvenate, encourage and sensitize the various communities on the effect and impact of vandalism to Nigeria’s power sector.”
He said, Katampa, Shiroro and the adjoining localities that have double circuit are becoming increasingly affected, adding that these areas are prone to vandaliastion and therefore there is secure the place with adequate security network.
He said: “In fact most of the vandalisation that we are having is from this area and so the management now decided to say go and sensitize and talk to these people even if the vandals are not living with them here.
“The vandals may though come from neighbouring villages to do these act and so when they see any strange person lurking around, the vigilantes and members of the community should report to the Police, DSS and NSCDC immediately.
According to him, vandalism and darkness are interconnected, explaining…”As I said initially, this area is prone to vandalisation and that is why we are here to sensitize the local populace on the need to see that they rejig their strategy of putting eyes on our facilities.
On the role of government security agencies, he said, TCN uses vigilantes as support in the security architecture, adding, we are also in collaboration with these security agencies with DSS and NSCDSC.
He added: “What is happening now is that these local vigilantes have other engagements within their communities, however, we have a mechanism in place that when there are issues we quickly resort to Civil Defence that is stationed at Suleja TS which is close to this and we have another group stationed at Gwagwalada which is stationed at that axis.
Therefore these vigilantes which are the in-house security outfit alert DSS or Civil Defence when they see strange faces lurking around our power lines.
“We have local vigilantes from the residents here and the community members we have them and we have been working with them for a long time in collaboration with the Civil Defence and other security agencies.
Shuaibu, acknowledged that not too long, TCN held an all-encompassing stakeholders general meeting involving DSS, Civil Defence and the Police to strengthen surveillance capacity.
According to the GM, national infrastructure is for every Nigerian, pointing out that there is need to secure these critical asset for generations yet unborn.
He urged them to up their patriotic zeal as government is always ready to render support and assistance when called upon as TCN has been doing even before now.
While fielding questions from the media, after the sensitization, the district head of Daku village, Chief Danladi Yahaya, said the entire community is happy on efforts the Company is doing to raise awareness on the overarching need to secure the power infrastructure.
He said the communities have agreed to join hands to support TCN in its bid to safeguard the power lines with their local vigilantes in collaboration with government’s security outfits.
However, he pleaded for more support and assistance like provision of light equipment for the vigilantes to be able to carry out the onerous task.
While also speaking, the head and commander of the vigilante in Gurara local government, Mr. Chidawa Simon, said he is pledging the cooperation of his men with DSS, Police and Civil Defence against any form of power line vandalisation.
He reiterated that it is the entire local government that suffers any time the vandals struck, adding: “I’m happy with their coming to sensitize the villages around here and the community heads. However we need equipment to be able to carry out these work.”
