By Aaron Ossai
The House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to provide adequate security for Transmission Towers nationwide to reduce cases of vandalism to the barest minimum.
Adopting a motion on urgent national importance on the need to to urgently provide adequate security for Transmission Towers in Rivers and Bayelsa States and Nigeria in general, the lawmakers said the call has become necessary to avoid future occurrences of vandalism.
It mandated its Committees on Interior and Power to ensure compliance.
Leading debate on the general principles of the motion, its sponsor, Hon. Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji noted 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 also noted that the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, swiftly swung into action to address this challenges that has culminated in dwindling of socio-economic activities in the state.
The federal lawmaker expressed sadness 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.
He said that it’s disturbing that by this development, the woes of the residents of Bayelsa State still subsist for one or two days, because as we speak the people of the State are in total blackout, this has been the situation for over four months.
He hailed the efforts of the Bayelsa State Government in mobilizing financial and material resources to support the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is highly commended.
“However, proactive measures must be taken to forestall future occurrences of vandalism of these Transmission Towers. As a representative of my people this brings to mind the provisions of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) which talks about our economic and social rights as citizens, which I believe should not be taken for granted by the government”, he added.
At the end of a robust debate on the general principles of the motion, majority of members at plenary unanimously adopted its prayers.