Ikeja Electric has raised concerns over the rising incidents of vandalism across its network, warning that the damage to its infrastructure is severely affecting its ability to provide reliable electricity to consumers.
In a statement released on Monday, the electricity distribution company highlighted the persistent challenge posed by vandalism and energy theft, which it described as significant threats to its operations, according to BusinessDay.
The company disclosed that it has initiated legal proceedings against two individuals accused of energy theft, in a bid to deter others from engaging in such activities.
The vandalisation of critical assets, according to Ikeja Electric, has resulted in widespread service disruptions, leaving numerous customers without power.
Speaking during a recent stakeholder engagement, Kingsley Okotie, the head of corporate communications, expressed deep concerns over the escalating vandalism in areas such as Epe and its environs.
“These activities not only disrupt electricity supply but also impede socio-economic activities, leaving businesses and law-abiding citizens in hardship,” Okotie lamented.
He recounted a specific incident in Ikorodu, Lagos, where the company’s Ariel Bundle Cable (ABC)—an essential component of its newly introduced Intelligent Data Box technology for prepaid meters, was vandalised.
Explaining the incident, he said, “The cable was cut, the insulation damaged, and a new service wire was illegally connected to siphon electricity into an apartment in Jubilee Estate, Odogunyan.”
Following an investigation, two suspects, Akintola Olayinka and Obigbo Moses, were apprehended by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and arraigned at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on December 11, 2024.
