THE rising spate of vandalisation of electricity transmission towers in the country, particularly those along the Power Holding Company of Nigeria's (PHCN) Ikeja West- Ayede (Ibadan) 330kv transmission line has become worrisome to the Federal Government.

Reason: The transmission lines are strategic for power transmission from the national grid to the station at Ikeja West, which services Lagos, Ogun and some parts of Oyo State, which has in turn hindered adequate supply of electricity within the network.

Perturbed by the recent vandalism on three of the transmission towers within two months, government had to put a red alert on vandals with a reward of one million naira for vigilant Nigerians to help apprehend the vandals.

The reward tag however could be said to have worked wonders as the people of Ajibode in Ado Otta local government area, few weeks after the declaration by the Minister of State for Energy (Power), Hajia Fatima Balaraba Ibrahim apprehended two vandals caught tampering with PHCN's 330kv transmission tower number 487, along the Ikeja- Ayede (Ibadan) 330kv transmission line.

Most worrisome about all the cases, according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Godwin Osakue, is the fact that the vandals were out to sabotage the efforts of the power company to make electricity readily available to Nigerians as they usually leave the spot without stealing anything from the site.

Before the Ajibode incident, tower numbers 395 off Oko Baba near Abeokuta and tower 507 close to Temperance Farms, Ota, both towers were axed down between February 17 and 27.

Lamenting the shortfall in supply as a result of the vandalised towers, Osakue at the site of the Ajibode site said the company would need more than N30 million to put the third tower back on stream.

According to him, the company would have to work with the stringent budget from the power ministry to restore the tower, saying the Ajibode vandalism would cost it more to repair than the two previous once since the incident happened deep in the swamp.

Osakue who presented the one million naira cheque to the community on behalf of the minister of state applauded the effort of the people in the government's crusade against vandalism of its facilities.

Speaking further, he urged Nigerians to help prevent further vandalisation of its towers.

"Permit me to say that the electric grid system of any nation is the backbone for its socio-economic development and must be protected. It is clear that the vandals have no regard for this fact. This is reflected in the way in which the towers were vandalised as nothing was removed from the vandalised towers and adjoining line sections, thereby suggesting sabotage. This is very disturbing, but nemesis has eventually caught up with these agents of darkness with the arrest of two suspected vandals. I'm here to convey the sincere appreciation and gratitude of the Honourable Minister of State, Energy, (Power), Mrs. Fatima Blaraba Ibrahim, to you all for the significant role played in apprehending the suspected vandals. The issue of vandalism of PHCN equipment is one that has continue to give the minister great concern. It was therefore with a deep sense of gratitude that she welcomed the news of the arrested saboteurs who are currently in police custody," Osakue said.