By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– The Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Tegbe, has sought enhanced collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen the protection of critical power infrastructure across the country, as part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving the reliability of electricity supply.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tunji Disu, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Tegbe identified the vandalisation of power installations as one of the biggest threats to the nation’s electricity sector and called for intensified surveillance of critical assets.
The Minister, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary and other members of the Ministry’s management team, commended the performance of the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of IGP Disu, particularly in supporting the current administration’s security objectives.
He stressed the need for sustained collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the Police to curb attacks on electricity infrastructure, noting that protecting power assets is critical to achieving the Federal Government’s power sector reform agenda.
Responding, the Inspector-General of Police thanked the Minister for the visit and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to protecting critical national infrastructure, including power installations.
Disu pledged the Force’s continued support in bolstering energy security and ensuring that vandals and other perpetrators of power sector-related crimes are apprehended and prosecuted.
He also expressed readiness to partner with the Ministry to establish a Joint Task Force on the Protection of Power Infrastructure, describing the initiative as necessary given the strategic importance and vulnerability of power assets and personnel.
The IGP assured the Minister of the Police Force’s full cooperation in safeguarding electricity infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted power supply and support national economic development.
The meeting underscores the Ministry of Power’s commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration to secure Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure and improve the reliability of power supply in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
