The Managing Director and the Chief Executive Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Mr Kensely Achife, has decried lack of willingness on the part of their customers to pay electricity bills and called for change of attitude.
Achife who made the call on Thursday during the commissioning of 1x15mva, 33/11kv injection substation at Budo-Osho along Taoheed Road, Ilorin appealed to customers for timely payment of bills in order to serve them well.
He noted that the IBEDC is committed to provide a reliable and standard electricity to boost economy of the state and make life meaningful to the people.
He stated that the installation of the facilities would powered 18,000 urban home, urged the people of the communities to jealously guard the facility from vandalism.
The CEO said the newly commissioning injection substation would enhance electricity distribution to the residents of the communities and the state at large added that it would bring about better quality supply of power to the residents.
“With this investment, we need people to take power from it and pay for it. We are hoping that industries will come around, because what actually drives energy in the world is industries. Residential buildings also important but it is industries that allow us to make more investment”, he said.
He expressed displeasure that many staff of the company have suffered series of unfortunate incident like kidnapping, harassment among others as he identified the problem of insecurity in the country as one of the challenges hindering effective operation of the company
He said “Kwara State is a place we record 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.
In his remarks, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented by the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr John Bello, congratulated the benefiting communities as well appealed to the affected communities to take ownership of the facility by making good use of it and protect it from vandalisation to achieve the set objective.
“I appeal to the affected communities to take ownership of this facility by making good use of it to achieve the set objective”, he said.
Coordinating Head Corporate Services, Angela Olarewaju, also blamed high rate of vandalism and lack of willingness to pay what people consume especially in Kwara State as one of the major challenges affecting steady power supply.
She urged consumers of electricity of power to support the Company through protection of its facilities and prompt payment of bills.
She said the facility was part of the Company’s efforts to improve electricity supply to its customers.
“With this commissioning, the affected communities will get an improved and steady power supply”, she said.
