PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu wants the speed up repair works and restore power to the northern part of Nigeria.
The north has been thrown into a blackout following the vandalism of some transmission lines, raising concerns among stakeholders in the region and beyond.
But President Tinubu has directed the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu and “relevant agencies to speed up the pace of work to restore electricity to all the affected states in the North”.
“President Tinubu is saddened by the reports of vandalism and wilful destruction of power infrastructure and other public assets that caused the unfortunate blackout.
“In a meeting with the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, who briefed on efforts made by the Transmission Company of Nigeria to repair the damaged Shiroro-Kaduna transmission lines, the President directed a long-term solution to the problem,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Monday evening.
“President Tinubu charged TCN engineers not to relent in bringing immediate relief to the people who need electricity to sustain their social and economic activities.
“Tinubu also ordered the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu “to work with the Army and Air Force to deploy adequate security personnel, including aerial cover, to protect the engineers who are fixing the damaged transmission line”.
The president warned that Nigeria will no longer tolerate “deliberate sabotage and destruction of public utilities”.
