The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has called on the Nigeria Police Force to intensify efforts to combat energy theft and vandalism of critical power infrastructure across the country.
Tegbe made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration to secure the national grid.
According to a statement issued by the Nigeria Police Force, the minister highlighted the growing threat posed by the destruction of power infrastructure and widespread electricity theft, describing both as major obstacles to stable electricity supply nationwide.
The minister was accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Power, including the Permanent Secretary, Mr Mahmud Mamman, and directors overseeing distribution and energy resources.
During the meeting, Tegbe requested enhanced surveillance of critical power installations and stronger enforcement measures against individuals and groups involved in energy-related crimes.
The statement noted that discussions centred on tackling the vandalisation of national power infrastructure and reducing incidents of energy theft through improved coordination between the ministry and security agencies.
In response, Inspector-General of Police Disu assured the ministry of the Force’s commitment to protecting national infrastructure and prosecuting offenders.
He reaffirmed the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen energy security and support efforts aimed at safeguarding the country’s electricity assets.
“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 face significant challenges arising from the theft of electricity, illegal connections, vandalism of transmission lines and destruction of transformers and other critical infrastructure.
Industry experts estimate that the sector loses billions of naira annually due to such activities, with the resulting disruptions contributing to power outages, reduced efficiency and increased operational costs.
Stakeholders have repeatedly called for stronger security measures and stricter enforcement to protect infrastructure critical to the country’s economic development and energy stability.
