(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Chinedu-Nebo-Minister-of-Power-300x200.jpg) The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has said that the Federal Government is poised to tackle the menace of vandalism in order to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians.
The Minister stated this during the working visit of Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin and his team to the Ministry in Abuja.
The Minister said, his Ministry will collaborate with all security agencies and other stakeholders to safeguard power infrastructure throughout the country.
He further stated that power is central and critical to Mr. President's Transformation Agenda; hence Government would not sit back and allow unscrupulous elements vandalize these equipments. He further noted that successive governments in Nigeria have expended billions of Naira in the procurement of power infrastructure adding that such acts would derail the planned efforts at ensuring uninterrupted power supply.
The Minister stressed that his Ministry will leave no stone unturned in its quest of protecting power lines and transformers which are key in the power chain.
Prof. Nebo further revealed that Mr. President has committed a lot of resources both material and financial to the sector hence "We as guardians and superintendents cannot afford to fail in providing electricity to Nigerians".
The Minister later inaugurated an eleven-member Joint Technical Committee – five from the Ministry, and five from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the representative from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President as Co-ordinator.(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ADE-ABOLURIN.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/fg-set-to-tackle-menace-of-power-infrastructure-vandalism-nebo/ade-abolurin/)
The term of reference of the Committee is as follows:
1. Work out modalities for co-operation;
2. Identify critical infrastructure and needs assessment;
3. Work out modalities for collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders;
4. Bring up proposal for funding on short, medium and long term; and
5. Undertake other duties as identified, among others.
The Minister commended the Commandant of the Corps for the interest shown in assisting the Ministry to tackle the menace.
While responding, the Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, said his agency is aware of problems faced by the Ministry and that all hands must be on deck to protect power equipment in the country at all times.
Dr. Abolurin further stated that for power sector to succeed in providing uninterrupted electricity supply all power equipment must be well protected through information sharing and surveillance.
He further revealed that his agency since inception has also protected infrastructure for other sectors of the economy, like the pipelines.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria