From Jude Owuamanam, Jos
Management of the Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) has said no fewer than 50 transformers are being vandalised daily in its coverage areas.
Head of Customer Care of the company, Mr Friday Akpovi, who spoke at a forum organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to address complaints of JED customers in Jos, said that the activities of vandals are affecting effective service delivery to its customers.
At the forum, which is an intervention of FCCPC supported by Mac Arthur foundation, to enable it perform the goal of its Electricity Complaint Resolution Platform established in 2021, Akpovi said, “Over 50 transformers and counting are being vandalised on a daily basis. What they(hoodlums) do is that when we repair a transformer, they come after two weeks to still perpetrate the crime.
“One of the obligations of customers is to safeguard electrical installations in their domain. We are trying to talk to customers to ensure they monitor every transformer point in their various communities, `he said.
Akpovi said that the company is liaising with communities Jos, Bauchi and and all its coverage areas, to avoid incidences of vandalism as well as fostering a robust community engagement in line with the directive of National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC ).
He said meter vendors have been contacted to ensure the speedy installation of meters for customers who have been on their waiting list and expressed optimism that consultation and collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders would curb energy theft particularly of transformers and meters.
Akpovi also assuref that issues of power outage in communities as a result of transformers vandalism would address in no distant time,
Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Mr Babatunde Irukera, represented by Dr Adamu Abdullahi, said that the interactive forum was necessary to address the enormous complaints the commission have been receiving from consumers on power related issues.
He said that FCCPC as the umbrella of consumers protection in the country, organised the forum to provide a middle ground for all stakeholders.
“Whatever issues people come with within the next four days we are here, will be resolved here”.
He assured complaints that their complaints would be resolved in a matter of days.
Assistant General Manager, Customer Service standards of NERC, Ms Kaneng Gwom, said as very important link in the value chain,, customers have the right to seek redress when experiencing dissatisfaction in service delivery.