By Chijioke Kingsley
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Managing Director of the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), Engr. Abdu Mohammed has said the company has lost N1.6 billion to energy thieves in the second quarter of 2024.
He said if the trend continues, the company can go out of business, calling on residents to help report anyone caught sabotaging the company.
“The company lost about N1.6BN in revenue in the second quarter of 2024 alone. If this trend is not halted, it would greatly impinge on the collection status of the company”, a statement signed on Saturday, by the Spokesman of the Company, Dr. Friday Elijah said.
Elijah explained that Mohammed spoke on Friday to a group of Journalists in Jos, where he lamented the increased activities of vandals of energy installations and energy thieves.
“The heavy revenue losses are impinging on the financial status of the company. We also have the danger of electrocution.
“Energy thefts could also lead to loss of lives and prosperity hence the need to discourage it”, he said.
According to the statement, Mohammed was represented by the Head, Revenue Protection Unit, Abdulaziz Adediji at the briefing where he also disclosed that some members of some communities were aiding and abetting energy vandalism and thefts.
“We want you to report anyone doing this to the law enforcement agencies.
“Some thieves are in the habit of masquerading as staff of our company and going about fleecing unsuspecting customers through meter racketing and bypass.
“I call on members of the public to watch out for such people with the view to reporting them for apprehension and prosecution.
“To tame the hydra-headed monster, the company has initiated a legal measure aimed at prosecution which could lead to five years imprisonment as contained in the 2023 Electricity Act”, he said.
Adediji however added that he has led the Management to apprehend a suspect who has stolen energy worth N1 billion at the Jos Industrial layout.
JED called on the public to take advantage of a whistle blowing policy currently introduced to report perpetrators and earn a cash reward.
