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From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Following the spate of vandalism of critical national assets across the country, Federal Government has set up a committee comprising Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor the assets.
Minister of Power, Olasunkanmi Tegbe, who disclosed the plan when he commissioned three megawatts solar hybrid power project in Abuja, today, noted that a large number of towers get pulled down by vandals.
According to him, the committee would ensure that vandalism becomes a criminal offence. Apart from considering it as a criminal offence, the panel is expected to create awareness of their act.
“We’re trying, through that working committee, to ensure that this becomes a criminal offence.
I’m also trying to create awareness. Some of them are doing it out of ignorance” he said.
Furthermore, the government has trained over 300 students from 15 universities to monitor the assets within the campus. After graduation, they will be absorbed in distribution, generation or transmission companies.
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In his speech, the Managing Director of Renewable Energy Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, noted that the programme, themed: Energising Education Programme, has now delivered renewable energy infrastructure to 22 federal universities and three affiliated teaching hospitals, leading to the delivery of over 100 megawatts of clean energy to federal universities and teaching hospitals.
“This is just one of the 15 projects that the Minister of Power will commission, and the entire programme is positively impacting more than 300,000 students and over 50,000 academic and administrative staff” he explained.
The Vice Chancellor, Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi maintained that no effective learning takes place without research and laboratory services.
“A university such as our own cannot teach effectively, conduct research meaningfully, operate its laboratories, sustain digital services or even provide the conducive environment required for learning and innovation without dependable power supply.
“We are therefore happy that this project, which is an investment in the university’s academic mission, has provided an important response to that challenge by largely assisting and strengthening our electricity supply and meeting the demands of a fast-growing institution. With a population of about 40,000 students, including over 80,000 living on campus and more than 3,500 staff, the demand for electricity across the university is substantial.
This project could not have become a reality without the dedicated and effective co-ordination of the federal government” he noted. ENDS
