Ikeja electricity coy bemoans vandalism of electrical equipment

In a bid to fight against electrical vandalism, Ikeja Electric Plc, has decried recent cases of vandalism in Igando, Alimosho local Government area of Lagos state that led to massive epileptic power supply in the area.

The vandalism, which has led to severe compromise of installations belonging to Ikeja Electric by suspected criminal activities has warranted to blackout, affecting over 6,000 households and businesses.

Head, Corporate Communications for Ikeja Electric Plc, Felix Ofulue, decried the development, largely targeted at transformers where single core and up-riser cables worth millions of naira have been carted away.

He Further noted that the increase in the vandalism of the company’s assets had become quite alarming and is depriving legitimate customers of their right to steady power supply.

“In the past two week, over 24 transformers were vandalized in Igando, leaving our customers in total darkness and this is quite worrisome considering the discomfort and economic loss to this community. It is quite troubling and intolerable because innocent customers are suffering,” he said.

Ofulue noted that the cost of replacing the stolen assets was huge and would take some time to restore.

He called on community leaders, youth associations and security agencies to make improved efforts to ensure that electrical assets within their communities were protected.
While explaining that the company is partnering with security agencies to track the vandals, he also encouraged vigilant members of the community to report suspected vandals to the appropriate authorities or to Ikeja Electric for prompt action.

“These vandals sometimes operate from within the community. They keep the stolen assets somewhere. They sell to someone. It is possible that one or two people may see something, so we are calling on these vigilant and patriotic members of the community to speak up, so we can nip this in the bud. Don’t forget that as a business, it is counter-productive to keep replacing assets in a particular location, spending our limited resources, when we could be expanding the network and improving supply in another”, Ofulue concluded.

However, Ofulue warned that collaborators in the crime when caught would face the full extent of the law.

He pointed out that Section 1(9) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act provided a stiff punishment, up to life imprisonment, for offenders who unlawfully disconnect, remove, damage, tamper or meddle with or in any way whatsoever interferes with any plant, works, cables, wire or assembly of wires designed or used for transforming or converting electricity shall be guilty of an offence.

Only recently, thirty-year-old Ahmed Umar was sentenced to six months in prison at a Lagos Magistrates’ Court, Ogudu, for vandalizing a transformer belonging to Ikeja Electric. He was alleged to have stolen a copper wire valued N100,000 from a 500KVA transformer located at Olutunfese sub-station, by Demurin Street in Ketu, Alapere.