On Monday, President Bola Tinubu issued a directive to the Ministry of Power to deal decisively with saboteurs working against the improvement of power supply and vandalising its facilities across the country.
The Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, disclosed this in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital while inspecting the Ayede sub-regional station in Ibadan as part of his working visit.
Adelabu, who left the All Progressives Congress to contest the governorship election under the Accord Party in 2023, recently returned to the APC after Tinubu appointed him minister of power.
He also disclosed that the ministry had received the backing of the National Security Adviser, Nubu Ribadu, to ensure that saboteurs are seriously dealt with, decrying the level of vandalism by saboteurs across the country.
The minister said, “We must live up to expectations. We will not relent until we achieve improvement in power supply. We are working with everyone to protect national assets. We are working with the NSA for adequate protection of power facilities. We can see the saboteurs at work.
“Some people are not happy that we are improving supply, but we cannot be intimidated. They will meet us there. We have the support of the President and the National Security Adviser to deal with saboteurs who are poised to vandalise the nation’s installations, and destroy its power distribution activities.”
He said he would institute a compensation and motivation scheme among power stations where the best three would be rewarded.
“Whatever we can do to improve your people’s welfare to improve on your job, I will do. We are going to implement whatever good suggestions you bring to our attention. Good performance will be rewarded, but more reward means more work,” he added.
Adelabu was received by the Managing Director of the TCN, Abdulazeez Ahmed, the acting General Manager, of Ayede Distribution Sub-Region, Akinkunmi Olukunmi, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, Kingsley Achife, the General Manager, Osogbo Region, Muhammad Yankuz among others.