The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, has raised the alarm over the increasing rate of vandalism of electricity infrastructure across its franchise areas.
IBEDC also lamented the significant financial losses and the demise of five people in related incidents over the past three years.
The company, in a statement by Angela Olanrewaju, Coordinating Head, Corporate Services, said the destruction and theft of electricity assets had resulted in substantial revenue losses through unbilled energy, describing such energy as electricity that could neither be distributed, consumed nor billed because of damaged infrastructure.
IBEDC also said it had incurred huge costs replacing, repairing and restoring critical electricity facilities affected by vandalism.
The affected assets include transformers, power cables, conductors, poles and other distribution equipment.
The electricity distribution company, while expressing concern over the human consequences of vandalism, stated that five people had lost their lives in incidents linked to the destruction of electricity infrastructure during the last three years.
Speaking on the development, IBEDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Deolu Ijose, described the rising incidents as a serious threat to electricity supply, public safety, economic activities and national development.
Ijose said, “The increasing rate of vandalism targeting electricity infrastructure is deeply troubling and unsustainable. Beyond the enormous financial implications, these criminal activities continue to disrupt power supply to millions of customers, destroy critical national assets and expose communities to significant safety risks.”
He noted that the continued destruction of electricity infrastructure was undermining the company’s investments in network expansion, service improvement and electricity supply reliability across its franchise areas.
According to him, “Electricity infrastructure remains a critical national asset that requires collective protection from relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, host communities, traditional institutions, the media and governments at all levels.
“We urgently call on security agencies, host communities, traditional institutions, the media and governments at all levels to strengthen collaboration with IBEDC in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting those responsible for these criminal acts.”
The IBEDC chief executive also urged residents within the company’s franchise areas to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities around power installations, substations, transformers and distribution lines to the appropriate authorities.