Power supply is very crucial to the security and development of Nigeria. Any investment in terms of human and material resources geared towards the security and protection of power installations is a step in the right direction. Transmission installations traverse the length and breadth of Nigeria and in the process passes through all manner of terrains and places.
The power transmission facilities are exposed to various degrees of risk along the different places it passes through. Construction of residential buildings, business offices, farmlands, mining sites, workshops along the right of way (RoW) of transmission lines have gone a long way to compromise the integrity of the transmission facilities. The government and other stakeholders therefore have no choice than to do their best to guarantee the security of the transmission infrastructure. It must be noted that vandalism in this critical sector is usually motivated by the individual’s pecuniary economic considerations.
The metals in the transmission infrastructure are melted and used to produce spoons, utensils, bolts, nuts, etc. This puts the transmission infrastructure at a risk of possible collapse and other attendant negative effects on national security and development. The cost of such vandalism is not just the cost of the replacement of the infrastructure, but the social and economic impacts which cannot be quantified during the repair and reinstallation period.
Billions of naira which could have been used to finance new budgetary appropriations in the power sector will end up being used to repair damaged transmission facilities. This clearly supports the argument that protecting power transmission facilities from vandalism will free up resources to finance power sector projects that have been approved in the federal budget. Ultimately, protecting power transmission facilities is one way to improve efficiency of the budgeting process in the sector.
Transmission stations/substations, power lines and pylons/towers are all components of the transmission network. The pylon/tower is most susceptible to unauthorized access and vandalism. Vandals usually unscrew the fasteners on the pylons and cut the constituent parts of the pylons. The vandals usually climb the pylons to access the transmission cables.
Stakeholders should identify high risk areas where pylons are most vulnerable and cameras should be mounted on the identified vulnerable segments. The cameras should be day and night vision and thermal imagers. The cameras should be connected to a control center that will monitor the proceedings. Deployment of technology is inevitable if adequate security will be provided for transmission facilities. Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Helicopters and Drones should be deployed to isolated, swampy and inaccessible terrains to help protect transmission infrastructure.
This will ensure quick response to threats and real time coordination of surveillance efforts from the control center. Sub-urban areas can be monitored with CCTV Cameras and patrol vans. The patrol vans will be manned by armed personnel from outpost stations located at intervals along the stretch of transmission facilities. The personnel should have access to radio communication sets, ballistic helmets, day and night vision camera, flashlights, body armor, raincoats and boots. The transmission stations and substations could be protected with both physical security and deployment of technology.
The CCTV cameras in transmission stations will be placed in locations where they can be closely monitored to avoid security breaches. There would also be a rapid response squad that will respond to alert from the control center to cover both accessible and inaccessible areas where an incidence has occurred. The strategy for response could be deployment of drones, helicopters or motorized personnel. Some security experts have recommended that about 2,500 personnel will be necessary for nationwide execution of this assignment. There could be an initial deployment of 1500 personnel and the balance of the personnel will be added sequentially.
The budget of the federal ministry of power has a lot of projects that are competing for the little available resources. The allocation to power as a percentage of the overall annual budget for 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 is 1.56%, 1.35%, 0.21%, 1.73% and 2.36%, respectively. The power sector should not complain of insufficient funds and still be guilty of using part of the resources to repair the damages done to transmission facilities by vandals. It will be smart economics to protect the facilities and prevent damages rather than spending billions of Naira on repair of damages. The idea is to make more money available for implementation of projects that have been appropriated for.
Martins Eke,
Centre for Social Justice,
Abuja (08035066196)
