The Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, said on Tuesday the Federal Government has spent about N8.8 billion to repair vandalized transmission towers across the country.
Abdulaziz, according to a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji, stated this on Tuesday at the Quarterly Power Sector Working Group meeting in Abuja.
The MD, who was represented at the forum by the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSO), Mr. Olugbenga Ajiboye, said between 128 transmission towers had been destroyed either by vandals or bandits across the country between January 13 and November 26.
He said that when the vandals were apprehended and handed over to the police for prosecution, they were bailed and continued with the vandalism.
Abdulaziz said: “As I talk to you today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits. To 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 the 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.”
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