Adelabu: N8bn budgeted for anti-vandalism — NOT electricity bill sensitisation

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says N8 billion in the ministry’s 2025 budget is  for the provision of technology to protect power infrastructure.

Adelabu was responding to media reports that the ministry plans to spend N8 billion on electricity bills sensitisation.

Checks by TheCable showed that N8 billion was budgeted for a line item tagged, ‘Advocacy and Orientation on Power Assets Vandalisation and Power Projects’ in the 2025 appropriation bill.

In a statement on Thursday by Bolaji Tunji, special adviser to the minister on strategic communications and media relations, Adelabu said the amount is “specifically meant for advocacy, education, enlightenment and provision of technology to protect power infrastructure”. 

According to the minister, the budgeted amount is meant to sensitise Nigerians on the need to show patriotism in their attitudes and conducts towards national assets, especially power infrastructure.

“Far from what is being canvassed, the federal government  is deeply worried about acts of sabotage that have continued to erode the gains made in the last one and half year in electricity supply to Nigerians,” he said. 

‘N8BN BUDGETARY PROVISION MISCONCEIVED’

The minister further said his words were “misconceived”.

He said the ministry does not need to preach to Nigerians about paying for electricity they consume, noting that the various distribution companies (DisCos) are capable of recovering debts owed to them.

“It is important to correct the impression that N8 billion is being proposed  for sensitisation on electricity payment,” Adelabu said.

“We are all aware that in the last few months, acts of vandalism have continued to throw different parts of the country into darkness with vandals planting bombs under power towers, carting away power lines and cables, the recent one being the vandalism of under ground cables that has thrown many parts of Abuja into darkness. It is therefore important  to protect the power infrastructure.

“Our advocacy would entail sensitization across the 774 LGAs and 36 States and Abuja, it would entail the use of electronic platforms such as radio and  television; the social media, newspapers, billboards to re-orientate Nigerians on the implications of vandalizing power infrastructure and the need to sensitise Nigerians to own these infrastructure. 

“It would also require the engagements of the different community stakeholders across the geo-political zones in town hall meetings; engaging local security men to protect such assets. 

“This would also involve the deployment of technology to safeguard these assets.

“More specifically, the advocacy will take us to all the nooks and crannies of the country, we will hold meetings with the leaders, stakeholders and youths.

“So, you can imagine how much this will cost, but we believe that this will help us to address this issue and arrest it. This is essentially what this budgetary allocation is meant for.”

Adelabu said reports that the ministry has budgeted N8 billion for sensitisation on payment of bills “is showing a lack of understanding of all the problems in the power sector”.