Chief Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, has condemned the recent attacks on power transmission towers in northern Nigeria, labeling them as acts of terrorism that will be addressed by security forces. Speaking at a briefing organized by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Abuja, Chief Adebayo explained that while such attacks are not new, the current wave has left 15 states in the north without grid power supply and is being perpetrated by terrorist groups.
Despite the challenges, he assured consumers in the affected regions that limited power supply would be restored by the weekend, with repair work on the vandalized Shiroro-Mando line expected to take approximately six weeks to complete. Chief Adebayo emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring electricity supply to the north through alternative routes.
“We are hoping that in a matter of days, light will be restored to the north,” he stated, confirming that the efforts would provide at least 400 megawatts of power by the weekend. He indicated that within two or three days, more than 70 to 80 percent of the affected areas would have electricity restored.
“This is not the first time we are facing issues with this line. Previous incidents of vandalism were addressed quickly, but this time the damage is more severe, and repairs have been delayed due to security threats,” Chief Adebayo added.
He appealed to the community for support in protecting the transmission infrastructure, highlighting that resources needed for other projects are being diverted to repair the damaged facilities. The Minister expressed optimism that power would be fully restored soon while reiterating the ongoing efforts to fix the vandalized towers.