This post has already been read 298 times!

…As Over 100 Community Youths Pledge to Defend Vital Electricity Infrastructure as Vandalism Threatens Regional Power Supply

In a bold and proactive move to curb the growing menace of power infrastructure vandalism, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on Wednesday, May 15, 2025, held a high-impact sensitization campaign that brought together over a hundred youths from 19 communities across Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas.

Hosted at the Igbu Ehuda-Ahoada Civic Centre, the one-day event themed “The Role of Community Youths in the Fight Against Vandalism of Power Facilities Traversing Their Communities”, served as a call to action for young leaders to take ownership in protecting the nation’s electricity lifeline.

Leading the charge was Engr. Akpa Emmanuel Anyaegbunam, TCN’s General Manager for the Port Harcourt Region, who didn’t mince words in highlighting the critical role of youths in stopping the sabotage of vital infrastructure. Recalling the devastating July 2024 attack that left Bayelsa State in darkness following the vandalism of 20 transmission towers along the Ahoada-Yenagoa line, Anyaegbunam emphasized that the ripple effect of such crimes goes far beyond damaged steel.

“Every act of vandalism weakens the nation’s progress and plunges innocent families, businesses, and hospitals into suffering,” he declared. “It is disheartening to note that all the vandals arrested so far have been young people. This has to change. You are not just future leaders; you are protectors of national assets today.”

The General Manager announced that TCN is exploring the recruitment of vigilantes from local villages to assist in monitoring and safeguarding installations — a move that was welcomed with enthusiastic applause from attendees.

The session turned highly interactive as community youth leaders and development committee chairmen voiced their support and presented actionable ideas. Mr. Isaiah Sunday, a prominent youth leader, advocated for community-based surveillance and urged TCN to employ local youths as security personnel, tapping into their intimate knowledge of the terrain.

Another youth representative, Benjamin Emmanuel, highlighted a concerning trend: many vandals aren’t from within the host communities. He called for swift justice and the publicizing of arrests and prosecutions as a deterrent. “Let the consequences of tampering with public property be loud and visible,” he urged.

Throughout the event, one sentiment echoed powerfully: the communities are ready to take a stand.

This latest initiative by TCN underscores a strategic shift toward grassroots collaboration in the war against infrastructure sabotage. The company’s commitment to empowering communities — particularly their youth — may well be the game-changer in ensuring a more stable and reliable electricity supply across the region.

As Nigeria’s power grid continues to face threats from criminal elements, TCN’s community-first approach could become a national model for protecting critical assets and fueling regional development. For the people of Ahoada East and Ahoada West, the battle against vandalism has a new frontline — and it’s powered by the people.

ABUJA BUSINESS REPORTS NEWSPAPER & MAGAZINE