By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Managing Director of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), Engr. Abdul Bello Mohammed, has said in April alone it has spent N7,294,750,295 billion to procure 249, 897 prepaid meters, amid customers request to end estimated billing.
Mohammed said between 2021 to 2023 JED has invested N10 billion for network expansion, as directed by its regulatory body, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
The JED strong-man was speaking on Thursday in Jos, during the occasion of Building Consumer Awareness and Strengthening the Customer Service Capacity of Electricity Distribution Companies, organized by the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED).
According to him: “The company in its quest to meet customers’ satisfaction has installed and commissioned not less than 249, 897 prepaid meters as of April 2024.
“So far, about N7,294,750,295 billion have been expended on the procurement of meters for our distinguished customers.
“In the same vein, the company had simultaneously invested another sum of about N10 billion between 2021 and 2023 on CAPEX projects as approved by the regulator (NERC), for network expansion and reinforcement.
“It is our hope that at the end of these investments, power supply within our franchise states will become so qualitatively reliable to the envy of all”, Mohammed said.
He noted however that despite these laudable efforts some corrupt Nigerians and officials are bent on sabotaging the efforts of the company by stealing and causing the company to mislay money.
“Despite these efforts, the company is currently bedeviled by some man-made challenges. These challenges range from Vandalism of our installations to energy theft to customers’ huge indebtedness to the company.
“Between 2021 and the first quarter of 2024, we lost over 500 Distribution Transformers, AVM Transformers, several spans of Aluminum Conductors, etc. worth several billions of naira to vandals” he said.
He appealed to customers to help the company in catching energy thieves, adding that officials of JED cannot do it alone.
“I plead with you as our critical partners in this enterprise to assist us in safeguarding our installations that are situated in your localities. I know that these facilities belong to JED but you are the beneficiaries, and therefore, should take ownership of these installations.
“When these installations are vandalized, it might take a little time for the company to restore them because the destroyed paraphernalia may have to be repaired or procured. They are not something that can be replaced with a twinkle of an eye.
“Again, when these agents of darkness strike, the entire community will be plunged into darkness, and with the state of insecurity in the country today, if premises and communities are not illuminated, it could spell danger.
“It will also truncate social cohesion as well as destabilize the economic growth of the affected areas. It is because of these that we are soliciting your cooperation, especially in the area of safeguarding these installations that are essential to our well-being.
“On our part, we have institutionalized strategies aimed at curbing the menace but we need your assistance to achieve this”, Mohammed said.
Adding his voice, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Barr. Sunday Oduntan, urged consumers to cooperate with DisCos to help the constant supply of light.
He said electricity supply is like any other product that is sold in the market, which must be paid for before it could be purchased.
