‘We’ll use technology to curb menace’ — Jos DisCo condemns vandalism of power facilities

Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) says it would leverage technology to tackle the incessant destruction of its equipment by vandals.

Abdu Mohammed, managing director of the company, spoke at a customers’ complaints resolution meeting organised by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Jos on Tuesday.

Mahommed condemned the surge of vandalism of power infrastructure in the country.

He said JED would deploy drones and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in curbing the menace, adding that the move to adopt technology in was laudable.

“In addition to the use of drones and CCTV cameras, security operatives have been mobilised and well-detailed to aid the company in apprehending criminals who are bent on vandalising electricity facilities,” he said.

“We advise and appeal to communities to take ownership of installations in their localities. This will help in safeguarding transformers and other electrical equipment in their domains.”

Mahommed also assured customers of a steady and quality power supply, once technology is leveraged to curtail the activities of vandals.

On the need for individuals or companies to invest in meter procurement, the managing director said regulators now allow third parties, largely non-licensed operators, 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,” Mohammed said.

“A structured repayment programme is also fashioned into the agreement.”

Mohammed also disclosed that the company would soon make more meters available for its unmetered customers, as it intends to “inject 417,000 meters into its network”.

He noted that JED has sealed all contractual agreements with meter providers, the world bank, and the national mass metering programme (NMP) toward the actualisation of its planned metering.

“With World Bank intervention in progress, we expect 305,000 from phase one of NMP. We also expect another over 100,000 in the World Bank intervention programme, and currently, we have 12,000 meters purchased just two days ago,” he added.

“We have the MAP still in progress with other initiatives in place, our customers will see traction in this direction.”