NSCDC, end vandalism

In a recent interview, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the federal government was planning to establish “Power Rangers” to protect Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure. He said they made the decision together with the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu. Tunji-Ojo explained that the new unit would comprise officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence […]

In a recent interview, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the federal government was planning to establish “Power Rangers” to protect Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure.

He said they made the decision together with the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.

Tunji-Ojo explained that the new unit would comprise officers from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

“What we had before we came was the generalisation of national assets. But we said no, you cannot have one specific medication that can treat all illnesses.

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“So you have to analyse every sector – power, water, education and health and be able to create arms of the NSCDC under the same umbrella,” he said.

The minister added that the decision was influenced by the success of “Mines Marshalls” introduced by the government in March 2024 to address security issues in the mining sector.

“We are already in the process of on-boarding those officers. We have to profile them and look at their capacity, competence and area of specialisation. We have a lot of considerations, even physical strength,” he said.

It appears that making issues to look too complicated is becoming the norm in Nigeria.

The NSCDC was established under the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (Amendment) Act, 2007, which clearly states that one of its core functions is the protection of critical national assets, including oil pipelines, transmission towers and power stations.

Curiously, years after its establishment, we are still thinking of segmenting the agency in order to deliver its core mandate as Nigeria has been suffering from repeated nationwide and regional power blackouts.

In the past year, multiple grid collapses and prolonged outages were recorded, largely due to the activities of criminals targeting transmission lines, transformers and substations. Businesses have shut down, hospitals struggle to function and millions of Nigerians are thrown into darkness.

The truth is that the NSCDC has principally failed in its duty. And the question policymakers should be asking is what can be done to correct this failure. Over the years, they have drifted from their responsibility. Instead of securing public infrastructure, many of its personnel have been reassigned to private security of politicians, wealthy individuals and celebrities.

Today, it is common to see NSCDC officers standing guard at the homes of government officials while power infrastructure remains unprotected. This misplacement of priorities has left vital electricity assets vulnerable to destruction, leading to repeated national and regional blackouts. If the security outfit was truly committed to its duty, the rampant vandalism of power infrastructure would not be as widespread as it is today.

While the efforts of the minister of interior and his colleague in the power sector should not be completely condemned, they should be mindful of adding burden to Nigeria’s already bloated security bureaucracy.

A few years ago, the NSCDC complained that it was unable to effectively secure national assets because it was not armed. That excuse no longer holds as they now have access to weapons. So the body must step up to its responsibilities.

Right from the point of entry, every member of the NSCDC should have the requisite training to adapt to contemporary challenges, while those in charge of affairs should avoid administrative red tape.

One of the key reasons for Nigeria’s security failures is the unnecessary fragmentation of responsibilities among different agencies. For instance, the Nigeria Police Force, which was once the primary agency for maintaining internal security, has been systematically weakened by the creation of multiple separate agencies, such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Fire Service and even the NSCDC itself.

In other countries, a single, well-structured police force is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, enforcing traffic laws and handling emergency response, with specialised units trained for different tasks. Instead of constantly setting up new agencies or fragmenting existing ones, Nigeria must strengthen its current institutions to function effectively.

In like manner, it is important to note that electricity generation and distribution in Nigeria have been largely privatised. Generation and distribution companies (GenCos and DisCos) are private entities that profit from electricity supply. It is, therefore, irresponsible for them to expect the government to bear the entire burden of securing their infrastructure. They must also deploy surveillance systems to safeguard installations.

Also, a government that is serious about ending vandalism must, alongside investors, ensure that all communities benefit from electricity. When people see power infrastructure as an essential part of their lives – powering their homes, businesses and schools – they will be more likely to safeguard it from criminal elements. Community-based security initiatives, in collaboration with local leaders, should be established to complement the efforts of security agencies.

The government must issue a clear marching order to the NSCDC leadership: Focus on your core mandate – no more excuses and diversion of personnel to private security jobs for politicians.