Amended Electricity Act Imposes Life Imprisonment for Vandalism of Power Infrastructure

The newly amended Electricity Act 2023, updated in 2025, now enforces stringent penalties for individuals convicted of vandalizing electricity infrastructure across Nigeria, including life imprisonment in severe cases involving major disruptions or threats to public safety.

The updated legislation is designed to address the increasing incidents of vandalism in the power sector and covers a broad range of assets, such as power generation plants, transmission lines, substations, transformers, meters, and related equipment. It applies to both publicly and privately owned electricity infrastructure critical to power generation, transmission, and distribution.

The Act states: “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.”

Where the vandalism results in significant disruption to power supply or endangers life or public order, offenders face imprisonment of no less than ten years and up to life imprisonment, with no option for a fine.

For acts that cause major economic loss or prolonged service interruption, the penalty ranges from five to ten years of imprisonment, also without the option of a fine.

In lesser cases, violators may receive a sentence of three to five years, a fine of no less than ₦3 million, or both imprisonment and fine.

The law also authorizes courts to order the forfeiture of tools, vehicles, or other equipment used in the crime and may compel offenders to compensate for any damages caused.

These new provisions underscore the federal government’s intensified efforts to safeguard electricity infrastructure and ensure consistent power delivery to homes and businesses across the country.