The Federal Ministry of Power has sought stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to curb the vandalism of power infrastructure, describing it as a major threat to reliable electricity supply across the country.
The call was made on Tuesday when the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
The minister was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and other senior officials of the ministry.
Speaking during the meeting, Tegbe commended the performance of the Nigeria Police Force under the current administration, particularly since the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police.
He noted that the destruction of power installations continues to undermine efforts to improve electricity supply and appealed for enhanced surveillance of critical power assets.
The minister also called for sustained collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the Police to safeguard infrastructure essential to the nation’s energy sector.
Responding, IGP Disu welcomed the minister’s visit, describing such engagements as beneficial to the Nigeria Police Force. He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure, including power facilities, while pledging continued efforts to arrest and prosecute vandals and other perpetrators of crimes targeting the power sector.
Disu also expressed readiness to work with the ministry to establish a dedicated task force for the protection of power infrastructure, assuring the minister of the Police Force’s full support in securing power assets and personnel, given their strategic importance and vulnerability to attacks.
The meeting underscores the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen inter-agency cooperation aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s power infrastructure and improving the reliability of electricity supply, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
