President Bola Tinubu wants the speed up repair works and restore power to the northern part of Nigeria.
The north has been thrown into a blackout following the vandalism of some transmission lines, raising concerns among stakeholders in the region and beyond.
But President Tinubu has directed the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and “relevant agencies to speed up the pace of work to restore electricity to all the affected states in the North”.
“President Tinubu is saddened by the reports of vandalism and wilful destruction of power infrastructure and other public assets that caused the unfortunate blackout.
“In a meeting with the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, who briefed on efforts made by the Transmission Company of Nigeria to repair the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, the President directed a long-term solution to the problem,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Monday evening.
“President Tinubu charged TCN engineers not to relent in bringing immediate relief to the people who need electricity to sustain their social and economic activities.
Tinubu also ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu “to work with the Army and Air Force to deploy adequate security personnel, including aerial cover, to protect the engineers who are fixing the damaged transmission line”.
The president warned that Nigeria will no longer tolerate “deliberate sabotage and destruction of public utilities”.
Meanwhile, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has alleged sabotage following the blackout, claiming it was an attempt to destroy the region’s economy.
“Home and office operate without cooling and heating and at night are literally thrown into the medieval dark ages of the primitive, pre-civilisation era. ACF notes that there has emerged, and growing, palpably evidence that it is to the utter consternation and disappointment of people that the problem appears to attract only deafening silence, suggesting indifference, from those who are constitutionally expected to respond with care and concern,” the group said.
