Nigeria’s Jos electricity coy to deploy drones, CCTV to checkmate vandals

sky news africa

Nigeria

Worried by the spate of electricity vandals in Nigeria, one of the Country’s Electricity Company known as the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED), has assured it’s customers that it will deploy drones and the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), to catch electricity thieves.

Decrying the high rate of vandalism, the JED Managing Director, Engr. Abdu Mohammed who spoke at the beginning of a 3-day workshop in the city of Jos north central Nigeria on Tuesday, said the new measure is aimed at curtailing the menace of vandals in their four franchised States.

He said in addition to the drones and CCTV cameras, security operatives have been mobilised as well and detailed to assist the company in apprehending hoodlums who are bent on stealing electricity installations.

In addition, Mohammed advised communities to take ownership of the installations in their localities, as it will help in safeguarding transformers and other electricity equipment closer to them.

He assured of steady power supply if activities of vandals can be halted and also promised that the company will provide more meters for its customers who have not been metered.

Responding to private individuals or companies who will want to invest in meter procurement, the JED boss said regulators now allow third parties which are non licensed operator to invest in the system through a project agreement.

“Any individual, corporate organisation or community that wants to invest in the system now has the opportunity to do so. A structured repayment programme is also fashioned into the agreement”, Mohammed said.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner Consumer Affairs, National Electricity Regulation Commission, Mrs.Isah Mahmud, said the purpose of organising the 3-day workshop is to educate customers on their rights and any other information they need to know regarding the electricity industry.

According to her: “We also want to resolve their complaint on the spot”, She said.

She continued: “Metering is one of the biggest challenges faced in this industry. Couple of years ago, the commission together with the federal government came up with a different Intervention programme just to make sure that customers are metered”, Mahmud said.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here