The Nigerian government has announced plans to establish a specialized security unit called the “Power Rangers” to protect the country’s power infrastructure from vandalism and sabotage.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is a response to repeated attacks on electricity installations, which have caused widespread blackouts across Nigeria.
The “Power Rangers” unit will be composed of officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Their primary responsibility will be to safeguard transmission towers, power distribution lines, and other critical electricity assets.
This move follows a pattern of sector-specific security measures, such as the “Mines Marshals” deployed in the mining sector in 2024 to combat illegal mining and protect natural resources.
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One of the key motivations behind the creation of this unit is the increasing incidents of vandalism, which the government has termed “economic terrorism.”
A notable case occurred recently when two transmission towers, T193 and T194, were destroyed along a 330-kilovolt transmission line. This incident follows a similar attack in December 2023, when three towers in Borno State were taken down using improvised explosive devices.
Although the timeline for the full deployment of the “Power Rangers” has not been officially announced, the minister stated that preparations are underway. Officers are currently being screened based on their competence, specialization, and physical strength to ensure efficiency in their duties.
The government also emphasized the need to sectorize responsibilities within the NSCDC to improve security operations across different sectors.
This move is part of the broader efforts by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to address Nigeria’s power challenges, which include vandalism, inadequate electricity supply, and an aging power infrastructure.
The government is also working on other measures, such as the Presidential Metering Initiative, which aims to provide 7 million prepaid meters to Nigerians to improve electricity distribution and reduce power theft.
