January 30, (THEWILL) – The Management of BEDC Electricity Plc. (BEDC) has commended Illah Community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State for its role in the arrest of electricity vandals, describing the rising cases of vandalism across its franchise areas as acts of sabotage against the good purpose and intents of the company.
The management said the power sector had been the most hit in the most devastating manner and the effect of vandalism cannot be over emphasised as residential customers, industries, small and medium scale businesses are being starved of power as a result of the activities of vandals.
It would be recalled that the anti-cult group of illah community had assisted BEDC in apprehending those who vandalised electricity transformers in the community.
Present at the appreciation ceremony organised to honour the members of the anti-cult group, who caught the vandals and handed them over to the police for prosecution.
At the Ogbeleani palace were the BEDC Management team led by the Head, Community Relations, Mr. Simple Ugherakpoteni and members of the Asaba Business Unit Technical team, while the community was represented by His Royal Majesty, Obi Sylvester Jugai, the Ogbelani of Illah, Chairman Illah Electricity Committee, Ogbuenyi (Chief) George Ofuokwu, the Odogwu of Illah, Secretary to Ogbelani and Illah Electricity Committee, Eddy Ojidoh , members of the anti-cult group and community youth leaders
Mr. Simple Ugherakpoteni, who spoke on behalf of MD/CEO, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, commended the community for its vigilance over BEDC network, saying vandalism of electricity distribution network and other forms of electrical thefts are serious threats to power sector sustainability and economic growth.
Ugherakpoteni insisted that increasing vandalism will force the company to spend money meant to improve electricity infrastructure on the repair or replacement of damaged and stolen installations.
“The fight against electricity vandals is a collective responsibility that can only be sustained through collective effort and increased partnership.” he said.
While appreciating the efforts of the Illah Community, the Head, Community Relations presented a life insurance policy to five members of the anti-cult group and cartons of energy saving bulbs, saying that the gesture would help them to pay less bills for electricity and also enjoined other communities to emulate and take ownership of BEDC assets in their various localities, “since they are the direct users of these facilities.”
The Ogbelani of Illah, HRM, Obi Sylvester Jugai, thanked the management of BEDC for its gesture and reiterated the community’s commitment to ensuring adequate protection of electricity facilities and equipment in the community.
The monarch insisted on improved community and neighbourhood relations with BEDC staff in order to collectively fight against electricity vandals.
Efforts by BEDC at curbing the menace of vandalism on its network received a boost with the sentencing of one David James to three years imprisonment by a Benin Magistrate Court 6 in Egor Local Government area of Edo state recently.
BEDC also reported case of high-tension cable conductor vandalism at Esaba, Otutuaima, Oghangbla and Iuhre-Ogun communities in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State. The suspects; Messrs. John Moses, Bako Michel, and Azikewe Festus in these communities were said to have vandalized 65 poles of high tension cable conductors in June this year. They were reportedly charged to Ogwashi-Uku Magistrate Court on and remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Correctional Centre.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
