The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has debunked claims that the N8 billion allocated to the Ministry in the 2025 budget is for sensitizing Nigerians on electricity bill payments. Instead, he clarified that the funds are designated for advocacy, education, and technological initiatives to safeguard power infrastructure nationwide.
Speaking through a statement by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, the Minister emphasized that the advocacy campaign aims to address vandalism, sabotage, and community engagement to protect critical power assets.
“Far from the claims, the Ministry does not need to advocate for electricity payment; that is the responsibility of the DISCOs. This budget is for sensitizing Nigerians on protecting and taking ownership of power infrastructure and addressing the alarming rate of vandalism,” Adelabu stated.
Rising Acts of Vandalism
The Minister highlighted the destructive impact of sabotage on the power sector, citing recent incidents where vandals used dynamites to destroy transmission towers on the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line, plunging parts of northern Nigeria into darkness.
“It costs the Transmission Company of Nigeria over N9 billion to repair the damage caused by these vandals. Just last weekend, half of Abuja was thrown into darkness due to underground cable vandalism. This advocacy is crucial to
