By Emmanuel Kwada
In a bid to curb the rampant vandalism of electricity infrastructure, the Federal Government has announced plans to set up a special security team, dubbed ‘Power Rangers’. This move is aimed at protecting the country’s power installations and preventing the frequent blackouts caused by the destruction and theft of power infrastructure.
According to the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the ‘Power Rangers’ will be composed of officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and will be tasked with safeguarding power infrastructure across the country. The minister made this announcement during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a popular morning show.
The decision to establish the ‘Power Rangers’ was influenced by the success of the Mines Marshals, a similar security team set up by the Federal Government in March 2024 to tackle security challenges in the mining sector. The minister emphasized the need for a specialized approach to addressing the unique security challenges facing different sectors, including the power sector.
While the minister did not provide a specific timeline for the launch of the ‘Power Rangers’, he revealed that the necessary steps are being taken to create the unit. These steps include screening offices, profiling officers, and assessing their capacity, competence, and area of specialization.
The ‘Power Rangers’ will be deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory
The ‘Power Rangers’ will be deployed across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as every state has power infrastructure that requires protection. The minister expressed confidence that the new security team will help to prevent the vandalism of power infrastructure and reduce the frequency of blackouts in the country.
This development is a welcome move, as the vandalism of power infrastructure has been a major challenge facing the power sector in Nigeria. The establishment of the ‘Power Rangers’ is expected to provide an additional layer of security for power installations and help to ensure a stable and reliable supply of electricity to homes and businesses across the country.
