The Benue State Operating Officer of Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED), Engr. Felix Shalzim Adamu, has appealed to communities across the state to safeguard electricity installations within their localities.
He also called on members of the public to support the company in tackling energy theft, warning that the menace is threatening the survival of power distribution companies nationwide.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Head of Corporate Communications, Saratu Aliyu Dauda, Engr. Adamu made the call in Gboko, Benue State, during a Customers Consultative Forum organised to sensitise electricity consumers.
Represented by the State Commercial Officer, Engr. Adeyemi Adebayo, Engr. Adamu described vandalism and energy theft as “combustive monsters” capable of crippling Nigeria’s entire electricity value chain if not confronted collectively.
He lamented that both JED Plc and its customers have lost billions of naira to these activities, noting that the impact has been “catastrophic” on service delivery.
Engr. Adamu further urged customers to pay their electricity bills promptly to enable the company sustain efficient service delivery.
“If you don’t pay for the energy you consume, you make it difficult for us to serve you effectively. Payments go through the entire value chain, including gas suppliers to generating companies. The money does not belong to JED Plc alone,” he said.
During the session, Abubakar Bello Lamido delivered a presentation on safety, cautioning members of the public against living or conducting business under high-tension lines. He reminded residents to maintain the approved safety distances from 130kV, 132kV, 33kV, and 11kV lines as stipulated by NESIS.
He added that the Right of Way (RoW) is measured equally on both sides from the centre of the line, stressing that no structure should be erected within the RoW for safety reasons. Where such structures are erected after a line has been built, he warned that the licencee would not be liable for any mishap.
Also speaking, Dr. Anwar Ahmed of the Regulatory and Compliance Department addressed customers on the issue of third-party investments. He advised them to always obtain formal agreements with the company before investing in transformers, poles, or wires if they intend to recover their funds.
“Many customers claim to have bought equipment that now serve their communities, and expect refunds during revenue collection. But did you go through the third-party agreement process? Without a formal agreement, the company is not obligated to repay you. Visit the NERC website to learn more,” he said.
In another presentation, Engr. Annas Saleh Sadiq disclosed that JED Plc is currently metering customers under the Federal Government’s DISREP scheme, alongside other ongoing metering programmes aimed at closing the metering gap.
He noted that the company is prioritising metering for premium Band A customers, adding that no fewer than 10,000 customers in the Makurdi Business Unit will be metered before the end of December. According to him, Gboko and Otukpo will follow thereafter.
Earlier, the Head of Customer Relationship Management, Umar Lawan, encouraged customers to document and submit their complaints to ensure timely resolution.
Community representatives—including Engr. J. I. Ahwa representing Tor-Gboko, Tor-Sankara representative Tarhemen Francis, Ishwa community leader Iorbee Akpenpwin, and UBA’s Richard Ngorngor and Tyough John Tyubee—commended the management of JED Plc for organising the forum. They called for regular engagements to keep customers informed about developments in the sector.
