The House of Representatives has called on the federal government to urgently provide adequate security for transmission towers across the country to curtail the state of vandalism.
The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Oboku Oforji.
Presenting the motion, Oforji recalled that on July 29, 2024, residents of Yenagoa and Bayelsa State in general woke up to a total blackout occasioned by the collapse of a Transmission Station between Emezhi and Mbaima in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State and three others between Igbogene and Nedugo Agbia in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
He said following the vandalisation of the transmission stations, the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, swiftly swung into action to address these challenges that have culminated in dwindling socio-economic activities in the state.
He, however, expressed concern that on the 19th of November, 2024, just as the work was nearing completion, at Ula-Akpata, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, some hoodlums went and vandalised a section of the lines.
Oforji pointed out that by this development, the woes of the residents of Bayelsa State still subsist for one or two days, because the people of the State are in total blackout, saying this has been the situation for over four months.
He emphasised that the efforts of the Bayelsa state government in mobilising financial and material resources to support the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is highly commended.
Ohorji argued that proactive measures must be taken to forestall future occurrences of vandalism of these Transmission Towers.
He said this brings to mind the provisions of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which talks about economic and social rights as citizens, which he said he believed should not be taken for granted by the government.
The House, therefore, urged, “the federal government through the Ministry of Interior, to urgently provide adequate security for these Transmission Towers across the country to avoid future occurrences of vandalism.”
It also mandated the Committees on Interior and Power to ensure compliance.