- JEDC Managing Director Engineer Abdu Mohammed has raised concerns over increasing vandalism and low revenue, threatening the company’s operations and sustainability.
- During a consultative meeting, JEDC officials urged customers to pay their electricity bills promptly and report vandalism incidents to improve service delivery.
The Managing Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Engineer Abdu Mohammed, has expressed concern over the rising incidents of vandalism affecting the company’s infrastructure, significantly impacting its distribution capabilities. At a customer consultative meeting for the Doma feeder, Mohammed highlighted that these challenges have led to a troubling imbalance between energy consumption and revenue generation.
Represented by Abubakar Sa’ad, the Regional Manager of JEDC in Gombe, Mohammed stated, “We organise these meetings to understand our customers’ issues and address them. JEDC is facing significant challenges due to vandalism and low revenue.” The company consumes over ₦2 billion in energy, yet its billing amounts to only ₦200 million, illustrating a severe financial strain.
During the meeting, attendees were urged to pay their electricity bills promptly and to report any vandalism incidents which have been crippling the company’s operations. Mohammed emphasised that the collective effort of customers is vital for the sustainability of the service, especially as energy theft and vandalism continue to threaten the viability of JEDC.
Yerima Baba, the Regional Manager for JEDC’s Doma region, echoed these sentiments, attributing poor revenue collection to customers not paying their bills consistently. Many customers have been found to pay randomly or in arrears. “We urge customers to reciprocate the stable energy supply by paying their bills,” he implored, highlighting the need for mutual responsibility between the company and its customers.
Abubakar Lamido, the Safety Officer at JEDC’s headquarters, also addressed safety concerns and warned against building structures under high-tension wires. He emphasised the potential risks to health and property associated with such practices and encouraged customers to report violations of the right-of-way policy.
In response to the increasing vandalism, Mohammed announced that JEDC has declared a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and vandalism. The company is actively working with security agencies to investigate and address these issues. “We encourage whistleblowers to report incidents confidentially,” he added, underscoring the importance of community involvement in protecting the company’s infrastructure.
The meeting concluded with a call for more vital collaboration between JEDC and its customers to enhance service delivery and address the challenges facing the electricity distribution network. By working together, both parties can contribute to a more stable and sustainable energy supply in the region.