Yemi Obafemi
The federal government is launching a specialized task force, the Power Rangers, to prevent the vandalism of power infrastructure responsible for widespread blackouts across the country.
Speaking on Friday, on Sunrise Daily, the Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said The ‘power rangers’ will be created with officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in all 36 states plus the FCT.
“We have decided now with the Minister of Power to have what we call the power rangers,” He said.
He stated that the decision to establish the Power Rangers was inspired by the success of the Mines Marshals, launched by the Federal Government in March 2024 to address security challenges in the mining sector.
Tunji Ojo said: “What we had before we (the Bola Tinubu administration) came was the generalisation of national assets. But we said no, you cannot have one specific medication that can treat all illnesses,” he said.
“So you have to analyse every sector, the power sector, the water sector, the education sector, the health sector… and be able to create arms of Civil Defence under the same umbrella.
“We’ve already agreed on the modus operandi and as I speak to you, the offices are being screened,” he said.
“Don’t forget that we are going to have officers in all 36 states plus the FCT because there is no state without a power infrastructure; it is just like the solid mineral sector.
“We are already in the process of onboarding those officers; we have to profile them, look at their capacity, look at their competence, look at their area of specialisation, look at a lot of considerations, even physical strength.”
