Sule Abdulaziz, Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), says the Federal Government has spent about N8.8 billion to repair vandalised transmission towers across the country.
This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power.
Tunji said that Abdulaziz said this on Tuesday at the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja.
Abdulaziz, who was represented by Olugbenga Ajiboye, Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSO), said that between Jan.13 and now, 128 transmission towers had been destroyed either by vandals or bandits, across the country.
He said that when the vandals were apprehended and handed over to the police for prosecution, they were bailed and continued with the vandalism.
“As I talk to you today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits. Till date, we have spent about N8.8 billion, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use.
”It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to police for prosecution, police would charge them for theft, instead of vandalism and they will be bailed.
”If they are charged for vandalism, they cannot be bailed, but this is where we are. So, many of them have been arrested, but each time they will be bailed because police often charge their cases as that of theft, ”he said.
(Business Day)
