IBEDC Ranks Kwara Highest  In Power Facility Vandalism    

 Mohammed Shosanya

Kingsley Achife, Managing Director/ and chief executive officer, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC,says Kwara ranks tops among states where the company recorded highest rate of vandalism of its facilities.

He lamented poor attitude to payment of bills in the state.

The power company covers Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara and parts of Niger, Ekiti and Kogi States in terms of electricity supply.

Achife,who spoke on Thursday during the commissioning of 1x15mva, 33/11kv injection substation at Budo-Osho along Taoheed Road, Ilorin,disclosed that the new installation has the capacity to power 16, 000 urban roads or an equivalent of 25, 000 rural households.

He explained that the new infrastructure is part of IBEDC’s  ongoing efforts to enhance power supply infrastructure in its service areas.

The injection substation will play a pivotal role in ensuring reliable electricity supply to Ilorin’s GRA suburbs like  Ebudo-Esho, F-Division, Tanke, Bubu, Oke-Odo, and the Basin,he said.

He expressed  displeasure that many staff of the company have suffered series of unfortunate incident like kidnapping, harassment among others.

He said the company also recorded highest number of vandalism in Kwara State.

According to him,”Kwara State is a place we record the highest number of vandalism. A lot of security incidents have been recorded.  Places like New Bussa, Pategi and part of Kogi State.

“We suffered kidnapping, harassment of our workers, and beating, that need to stop. Last month alone, we recorded about 20 cases of vandalism”.

“We want the communities to help us in this regard, energy theft is something that actually does a lot of harm to all us because it keeps the government to force to increase the tariff.

“So, if we can stop that and more people willing to participate, instead of stealing it, then the cost of energy will come down”

He also explained that power Distribution Companies (DISCOs), by their agreement with federal government, are not allowed to charge high tariffs from customers.

He added that IBEDC is committed to provide a reliable and standard electricity to boost economy of the state and make life meaningful to the people.