Nigeria has decided to establish a special security unit to protect its power installations and infrastructure.
“We have decided now, in collaboration with the Minister of Power, to set up what we call the ‘Power Rangers,’” Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced during an interview on Friday.
The ‘Power Rangers’ will be a specialized unit within the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), tasked with preventing the vandalism of power infrastructure, which has been a major cause of blackouts across the country.
With increasing incidents of vandalism and public outcry over frequent power outages, the minister emphasized the need for a tailored approach to addressing the issue.
He explained that the decision to create the ‘Power Rangers’ was inspired by the success of the Mines Marshalls, a security initiative launched by the Federal Government in March 2024 to tackle security challenges in the mining sector.
“Before this administration came into office, the security of national assets was handled in a generalized manner. But we realized that a one-size-fits-all approach cannot work,” the minister stated.
“So, we decided to analyze each sector separately – the power sector, water sector, education sector, health sector – and establish specialized units within the Civil Defence to focus on each area.”
Although the decision to set up the ‘Power Rangers’ has been finalized, the minister did not specify when the unit will be officially launched.
However, he provided insight into the steps being taken to set up the team.
“We have already agreed on the operational framework, and as I speak, the officers are being screened,” he revealed.
“Keep in mind that we will have officers in all 36 states plus the Federal Capital Territory because every state has power infrastructure, just like in the solid minerals sector.
“We are currently in the process of onboarding these officers. We need to profile them, assess their capabilities, evaluate their competence, consider their areas of specialization, and even examine their physical strength.”
