The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Osogbo Business Hub, has called on the Federal Government to establish mobile courts to try energy theft offenders.
IBEDC Branding and Communication Manager, Kikelomo Owoeye, made the call in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo.
Owoeye said that due to the problem of illegal connection and energy theft, the company could hardly get 30 per cent revenue of the energy supplied to customers.
“We are expected to collect 100 per cent of what we have supplied but it is quite unfortunate that we don’t even get 30 per cent of what we have pushed out for customers’ consumption.
“There are different factors affecting this and it has to do mainly with vandalism, illegal connection and energy theft.
“But if the government could provide mobile courts to tackle such issues it will not be out of place rather than trying such cases in the regular courts.
“It takes a long time considering our judiciary system,’’ she said.
Owoeye said government should play its role by empowering distribution companies in prosecuting offenders, adding that this would curb energy theft
She said government needed a strong policy that would make Nigerians perceive energy theft and vandalism as national sabotage.
Owoeye said if power was stable in the country, there would be economic development.
Aside the challenges of energy theft and vandalism, Owoeye also said that most of the equipment to produce and distribute the required energy were obsolete.
“On our transmission, even if the Gencos generate enough megawatt or gigawatt as the case may be, the equipment at the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) cannot wheel out all the required supply.
“There are challenges on the equipment; most of them are obsolete.
“The issue of power is such that there had been decadence of over 50 years and people want the Discos to turn things around in three years.
“ This will require long term patience, sincerity and hard work,” Owoeye said.
Source: The Tide
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