The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc has said that 50 transformers are vandalized in its coverage area daily.
JED’s Head, Customer Care Desk, Friday Akpopi, made this disclosure on Wednesday at the opening of a four-day forum organized by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission in Jos.
Akpopi said that the vandals usually return to vandalize transformers two weeks after they have been repaired. He urged customers to safeguard electrical installations in their domains.
“More than 50 transformers are vandalised on a daily basis in our coverage area. The hoodlums usually return to vandalise transformers two weeks after we have effected repairs.
“One of the obligations of customers is to safeguard electrical installations in their domains. We are trying to talk to customers to monitor every transformer point in their communities,” he said.
He also said that JED was engaging communities in its coverage areas to foster a robust community consultative forum in line with directives by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Akpopi noted that this action, taken in collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders, would curb the theft of transformers and meters.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Babatunde Irukera, said the intervention was organized due to the enormous complaints the commission had received on power-related issues.
Irukera, represented by the Executive Commissioner Operations, Adamu Abdullahi, explained that FCCPC, as the umbrella agency for consumer protection, organized the forum to provide a middle ground for all stakeholders.
He said that relevant agencies in the power sector would interact with customers to resolve complaints received.
Abdullahi also assured that the intervention would be sustained as the commission was determined to ensure that JED had a virile customer care unit to address customers’ complaints.
