Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu has called on Nigerians to demonstrate their patriotism and dispositions in protecting the nation’s critical power infrastructure.
In his New Year message to Nigerians on Wednesday, the minister expressed deep concern over the constant attacks and vandalism of power infrastructure which have adversely affected the gains of incremental supply of electricity to households and businesses to lack of patriotism by those responsible.
In a statement signed by the minister’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja, Mr. Adelabu noted that the handiwork of unpatriotic Nigerians, who appear as vandals and bandits, remained the major hindrance to achieving a breakthrough in the nation’s electricity supply in the past year.
According to him, access to electricity is a fundamental right for all Nigerians, and host communities must play a role in protecting critical power assets.
The minister had earlier pledged that power generation in Nigeria would reach 6,000mw by the end of 2024, citing improvements in the sector over the past year.
However, the frequent collapse of the nation’s electricity grid and the vandalisation of towers have ultimately affected the stability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry to raise the country’s power generation.
The statement read, “As we are ushered into the New Year by the grace of the Almighty God, this is to reiterate the commitment of our ministry and all our agencies to the pragmatic and resolute promise of Mr President to make electricity supply to all Nigerians a reality.
“President Bola Tinubu has repeatedly said that access to electricity is the right of all Nigerians and we have keyed into that promise and will ensure that all Nigerians are availed of this fundamental human right, as directed by Mr President.
“I want to call on all of us to own the power infrastructure in our different communities across the country. In doing this, we can secure and safeguard them.”
The minister reiterated the commitment of the government to the pragmatic and resolute promise of Mr President to make electricity supply to all Nigerians.
“The Federal Government is committed towards ensuring regular electricity supply to businesses and households in the country and all the agencies of the ministry are committed to this, however, those who did not wish the nation well, such as vandals and saboteurs went after these national assets.
“Power and transmission lines were subjected to constant and sustained attacks. Though efforts are being made to protect these assets, we plead with all Nigerians to see this infrastructure as theirs and protect them.
“Let us all be patriotic and appreciate the administration’s desire to provide these assets, especially our transmissions and distribution lines,” he pleaded.
GIK/APA