BEDC hails Edo Community for arresting Vandals

Fri, Jul 27, 2018 | By publisher


Energy Briefs

THE management of Benin Electricity Distribution Plc, BEDC, has praised Ovbiogie Community in Ekiadolor area of Benin, Edo State, for apprehending electricity vandals. Fidelis Obishai, chief state head, Edo State, made the commendation at the appreciation ceremony hosted by BEDC in Benin.

He stressed that vandalism and other forms of electric equipment thefts were serious threats to the country’s sustainability and economic growth. He said vandalism impacts negatively on revenue, as funds that should be used for electrical infrastructure projects are being used to repair damaged installations and replace also stolen equipment.

The vigilante of Ovbiogie community assisted BEDC in apprehending vandals who vandalised two transformers in the community. He said the fight against electricity vandals “is a collective responsibility that can only be sustained through increased partnership.

Obishai, who spoke on behalf of the Funke Osibodu, managing director, noted that increasing vandalism would force the company to spend money meant to improve electricity infrastructure on repair or to replace damaged and stolen installations. “If a pole is damaged, wires are carted away and transformers are vandalised, the community remains in darkness. It behoves on all of us to ensure that these equipment are protected for our common good,” he said.

Obishai pointed out that electricity generated in the country was not sufficient to give 24 hours power supply to all customers thereby causing load-shedding to enable equitable distribution of power so as to satisfy supply needs of all classes of customers, adding that “BEDC is only allocated nine per cent of what is generated from the national grid daily, still some communities were deprived of their share because of those who vandalise transformers and other installations.

He presented cartons of energy-saving bulbs to the community, saying they would help them pay less for power use. He enjoined other communities to emulate Ovbogie and take ownership of BEDC assets in their various localities “since they are the direct users of these facilities”.

 

– July 27, 2018 @ 09:15 GMT |

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