… Says 53 Transformers vandalized in October alone.
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc, Engr Abdu Bello Mohammed, has once again called on members of the public to help protect electricity installations in the state.
The MD who made this call at a three-day customer complaints resolution meeting organized by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), at City Bay Event Center, Low-Level, Makurdi, said the call was necessitated by the incessant vandalization of electricity facilities across the state.
Represented at the meeting by the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr Friday Adakole Elijah, Engr. Mohammed disclosed that only recently, high-tension towers hosting the 33Kv were vandalised in Makurdi and its environs just as no fewer than 53 Distribution Transformers were also vandalized in Benue state in October alone.
He said the situation was negatively affecting the operations of the company towards effective energy delivery in the state.
“We want you to please help us to safeguard our facilities located in your environments. It is true that these assets belong to the company but it’s your property because you are the immediate beneficiary. If you allow vandals to destroy these facilities, the company no doubt will lose revenue but it will affect you socially and economically”, he said.
The Managing Director also urged customers to endeavour to pay for their consumed energy stressing that customers’ refusal to pay for their consumed energy was taking a toll on the fortune of the company.
According to him, “Customers are currently indebted to the company to the tune of one hundred and twenty billion naira (N120B).
On meter penetration of the company, Engr Mohammed disclosed that the company has metered over 180,000 customers via the instrumentality of National Mass Metering Programme, (NMMP), Meter Assets Providers, (MAP) and Disco Financing Scheme adding that about 20, 000 meters have been procured by the company to be deployed to customers soon.
He also disclosed that the stability in energy distribution in the company’s franchise states of Bauchi, Benue, Gombe and Plateau was a result of deliberate investment in the networks.
Earlier, the NERC Commissioner in charge of Consumer Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Mahmud said the meeting was aimed at showcasing to electricity consumers their rights and obligations as well as those of utility providers.
She urged customers to pay for their consumed energy as at when due to enable the distribution company serve them well in conformity with their mandate.
In her presentation, the Assistant General Manager of Consumer Education, Regina Osuagwu who encouraged the distribution company to endeavour to expeditiously attend to customers’ complaints however told customers who may be desiring to invest in the company to always comply with relevant regulations in terms of investment.
According to her, “If you must buy transformers or anything on behalf of the company, you should ensure that there is an agreement to that effect”.