The damage done to the power sector in the last nine months by the Boko Haram sects in Maiduguri, Borno state is roughly in the region of N1.17 billion, the minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu has said.
Aliyu also noted insurgent attacks on power facilities have led to the death of his personnel.
He spoke on Thursday at the Town Hall meeting to address vandalisarion of power and telecommunications infrastructure held in Maiduguri, Borno state.
The minister who was represented by the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Sule Ahmed Abdulaziz said, ’Insurgent attacks on power facilities have led to a huge drain on our revenue and it has affected the socio and economic lives of our people. In one-month Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) lost an average of 130 million in one month on immediate charges on Maiduguri and environs.
‘’From January 2021 to date TCN which is nine months, TCN has lost 848 megawatts per day totalling N1.17 billion. Some staff of TCN has lost their lives,’’ he said.
Consequently, Abdulaziz pleaded with the media not to report the activities of vandals on power infrastructure.
“I just want to make this appeal to the gentlemen of the press to stop publicising these incidents as a true service to the nation.”
He said this is to avoid the past errors, where after 24 after replacing vandalised equipment, they struck again.
He the people of Borno state, he further said that the ministry is not resting as it is doing everything possible to restore power supply.
He said, ” Ministry of power is not resting on this issue. We would ensure that the supply of power improve. But there is something we noticed, the time when we rwatores power to Maiduguri and it was on television, people were celebrating and just 24 hours, the vandals went again and destroyed some towers.
“We have a plan but we don’t want to being it out yet. That was why I asked Journalists to please stop reporting vandalism because we don’t know where these new are going to, we don’t know who is here and we don’t know what they can do but am assuring you that we have other ways. So we are doing all our best and very soon it is going to happen.
Meanwhile, the theatre Commander, Joint Task Force (North East) Operation Hadin Kai, Maj. Gen. Christopher Musa has advocated for a way to track down government power infrastructure.
He said beside deploying technology to monitor critical equipment, the special marks should be placed on them to ensure that they cannot be sold in open market.
He said, ” On the way forward. It is to make the sale of this equipment and items being vandalized very difficult. There must be very punitive punishment for anybody found selling this items in the market.
“One way out is to have carbon markings that will be palced on some of this equipment so that any market where they are found it will be easy to trace who is bringing it and how it got there. If we don’t stop that once there is market for the items to be sold, individuals will continue because of poverty. It is important we call all good heads together. We are here to ensure that light is restored because we are also suffering from it. We have a lot of weapons, missiles both land and air bound with us that we need to keep them at certain temperature. And that is why it is important.
“We are equally because economically we have subject so much resources in ensuring we deploy generators for hours to ensure these things are kept in right temperature. I want to appeal to all the leaders in the states, the imams, ulamas and leaders, they need to commit and I am sure if we put all heads together we will end this war.”
Gen. Musa also pointed out the activities of saboteurs in the fight to end insecurity and vandalism in the North east.
“I actually did not want to say a word, but it is important I mention this. The military provides security all through especially through the power line. We have reasons to believe that there are saboteurs around that make it impossible for this to happen. It is important that we emphasis that charity begins at home. We need to look inward. There are certain individuals that are doing everything possible to ensure that that work is not completed for various reasons.
“There are people around that area that give information about our movement, what we do on daily basis. We try as much as possible to maintain 24 hours surveillance but as soon as we leave information is passed around and this happens.
“I think it is important we look at this.”
