Adamu Aliero calls for capital punishment for power infrastructure vandals

Adamu Aliero, senator representing Kebbi central, says vandals of power infrastructure should face capital punishment.

Aliero, a former governor of Kebbi state, made the remark on Wednesday during plenary before the senate passed the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, for second reading.

He commended the senate committee on power for doing a “very good job” on the bill.

“This is a detailed and comprehensive work. It addresses all the issues involved in the distribution, generation, and even transmission of power in Nigeria,” he said.

‘FG BEARING THE COST OF PRIVATISED POWER’

Aliero said he was particularly concerned about the issue of debt incurred by the federal government on behalf of private power firms.

“In particular, Mr President, I take special note on the issue of debt, which the federal government is shouldering on behalf of DisCos and GenCos,” he said.

“Mr President, we have privatised power, and yet trillions and trillions of naira have been spent.

“And it is done on behalf of GenCos and DisCos. They were given these assets, believing that they have all it takes to ensure that they generate and distribute power.

“But the federal government is bearing the cost, so the bill has really addressed this issue.”

Aliero said the vandalisation of power infrastructure has worsened the country’s energy crisis.

“Several power installations in this country have been vandalised by vandals,” he said.

“In particular, I know Shiroro was not working for over three months. Kainji was not working for over three months, also.

“The chief whip has mentioned that the north-east was in blackout for over six months. Mr President, it’s high time we penalise the vandals.

“Strict penalties should be imposed on these vandals, if impossible, we should give them capital punishment, not only sentencing them to jail time.

“But we should ensure that they are sent to the gallows. Maybe it will serve as a deterrence, as the chief whip has said.”

‘VANDALISM NOT LIMITED TO POWER INFRASTRUCTURE’

Aliero said the problem of vandalism extends beyond the power sector.

“Mr President, it’s not only in power. Even here in Abuja, if you go around our streets, you will see a lot of manholes being removed by vandals. It’s shameful. This is a national capital,” he said.

“And these vandals are caught, and they are sent to the police station. The next day, they are released.

“We have to punish these vandals. If we don’t do that, this will continue. These are national assets that need to be protected. If we don’t protect the national assets, what are we doing here?”