The Federal Government has announced that N8 billion has been budgeted for campaigns and advocacies against the continuous vandalisation of power infrastructure across the country.
This disclosure was made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu on Thursday, January 23, 2025.
Addressing the outrage over some of the ministry’s line budget, Adelabu said himself and his team are committed to delivering stable power supply and ending vandalism which affects every Nigerian individual and organisation.
He said that the Ministry of Power has been focused on improving the transmission and distribution of electricity across the country.
Clarifying the allocation of funds in the 2025 budget for the ministry, Adelabu said the controversial N8 billion has been earmarked for advocacy against vandalism, education, enlightenment, and deploying technology to safeguard power infrastructure – not for sensitising citizens to pay electricity bills.
In a statement issued by Bolani Tunji, the minister’s Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Adelabu said the fund will cover for a comprehensive campaign across all the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
He said, “Our advocacy will include town hall meetings, engagement with community leaders and stakeholders, and the use of various media platforms—radio, television, newspapers, social media, and billboards.
“The goal is to educate Nigerians on the implications of vandalism and encourage them to see power infrastructure as community assets,” the minister said.
The fund, according to the minister will also cover for the incorporation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in communities hosting power installations.
It will also aid in the engagement of local hunters and security personnel to protect infrastructure, among others.
