By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Chief Operating Officer, (COO) Engineer John Ayodele has disclosed that the company is on monthly basis losing over N50 million to vandals .
Engineer Ayodele in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Monday, said the N50million monthly is coming through stolen cables, damaged transformers, and other network infrastructure belonging to IBEDC.
He emphasized that activities of vandals within IBEDC ” franchise is crippling the distribution of power to customers” which is aided by the spate of vandalism of its tools and equipment by economy saboteurs.
The IBEDC COO hinted that unknown civilians and armed men purportedly cladded in police and Civil Defense uniforms recently carted away a 33kV underground cables belonging to the company at Mokola Round-about, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
“The Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Plc has decried the spate of vandalism within its network, and said the activities of vandals is beginning to cripple power distribution to its esteemed customers”, he said
Engr Ayodele added, “On the 29th of June, at night, unknown civilians and armed men cladded in Police and Civil Defense uniforms, carted away IBEDC 33kV underground cables at Mokola Round-about in Ibadan, Oyo State.”
According to the IBEDC COO, ” the stolen cables feed Agodi Injection Substation, where Government House, the State Secretariat, Agodi and majority of Bodija area and thousands of other urban customers are serviced”
“This means the economic power and livelihood of these people have been grossly disrupted, as we are incapacitated by the stolen cables to meet the supply demand.”
Engineer Ayodele however tasked all residents and customers to report any act suspected to be vandalism to the nearest Police station, Civil Defence and the Department of State Service. IBEDC does not operate late nights and all activities that occur after 8pm should be suspected and reported accordingly”,
