FG Prepares National Hotline for Power Outages, Infrastructure Vandalism

The Federal Government is developing a national electricity complaints centre that will provide consumers with a dedicated route for reporting power problems and vandalism.

Power Minister Joseph Tegbe announced the plan while commissioning a hybrid renewable-energy project at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja.

The minister said the proposed call centre would receive electricity complaints from across Nigeria and support efforts to resolve them.

It will also include a reporting channel for vandalism involving electricity infrastructure.

The government intends for reports involving critical assets to reach authorities quickly, with Tegbe saying the system is expected to support immediate action and remediation.

He said security and law-enforcement agencies are already working with the government to address the destruction of power infrastructure.

The announcement came as the government expanded its renewable-energy intervention at the university.

The newly commissioned facility has a 3.3MWp solar array, 3MW AC output and 2MWh battery storage.

The system is designed to support critical loads beyond daylight hours and is complemented by a grid connection for other demand.

The government said the project would benefit 58,726 students and provide 388 streetlights for the university community.

It was delivered under Phase 2 of the Energising Education Programme, which includes seven universities and two teaching hospitals.

According to the Rural Electrification Agency, more than 100MW has been supplied through the programme to 22 federal institutions and teaching hospitals.

The agency said its Renewable Asset Management Company would provide a structure for monitoring and maintaining renewable-energy projects after installation.

The power ministry’s proposed call centre is intended to address a different part of the electricity challenge: the process through which consumers alert authorities when services fail or infrastructure is threatened.

The initiative is still at the development stage, with the government yet to publish details of its launch date, operating arrangements or telephone number.