Vandals risk life imprisonment in new electricity act

The amended Electricity Act 2023, updated in 2025, has introduced strict penalties for individuals found guilty of vandalising electricity infrastructure across Nigeria, including the possibility of life imprisonment in cases where such actions cause significant disruption to power supply or threaten public safety.

The legislation, aimed at curbing the rising cases of vandalism within the power sector, covers a wide range of electricity infrastructure, including generation plants, transmission lines, towers, substations, transformers, distribution networks, meters and related equipment. The law applies to both public and private electricity assets essential for generation, transmission, and distribution.

According to the Act, “Any person who unlawfully or with intent to destroy, vandalize, damage, or render non functional any electricity infrastructure or assets within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry commits an offence.”

It further provides that “Any person who commits an offence of vandalism under this Bill shall be liable on conviction where the act of vandalism causes significant disruption to electricity supply endangering life, personal safety, or public order, to imprisonment for a term not less than ten years but not exceeding life imprisonment, without the option of a fine.”

The Act also outlines punishment for vandalism that results in substantial economic loss or prolonged disruption, stating that offenders “shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than five years but not exceeding ten years, without the option of a fine.”

In lesser cases, perpetrators may face “a term not less than three years but not exceeding five years, or a fine of not less than three million naira, or both such fine and imprisonment.”

In addition to prison terms and fines, the court is empowered to order the forfeiture of any tools, vehicles, or equipment used in the act and may also mandate the offender to pay compensation for any damage caused.

The new provisions reflect the government’s heightened efforts to protect power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to Nigerian households and businesses.

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