Secure power equipment against vandals, BEDC urges Customers

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro

The Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has asked its Customers to secure power equipment across the four franchise States; Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti against vandalism, which account for higher quality service delivery and huge revenue loss.
It implored its Customers and other kind-hearted Nigerians to take advantage of the whistle blowing helplines to report vandals and verify the status of suspicious individuals who pose as BEDC Staff and sometimes extort electricity users under its radar.
Managing Director of the company, Mrs. Funke Osibodu made the appeal at a media parley in Benin City, Edo State.
She said BEDC currently has about 10 cases against alleged vandals in court and had secured convictions against two vandals across its areas of operation.
She also urged the national Assembly to expedite action in reviewing fines and penalties for vandalism as part of measures to check the economic crime and deter people from embarking on such adventure or take the wind out of the sale.
“I tell people that things can’t change if BEDC Customers do not want the change because it usually take two persons to conspire. When this information gets to all of you, act by calling your network for us to step on it.
“Customers should stand up for your right…We have whistle blowing numbers.. We have zero tolerance for corruption and we had fired erring Staff in the past”, Mrs. Osibodu said.
“BEDC continues to record and increase in the cases of vandalism across its franchise zone. We believe that aside being an economic crime, it is also an act of sabotage which is unfair to affected customers and BEDC.
“More worrisome is the fact that these miscreants are continuously innovating new ideas beyond human comprehension to perpetrate their criminal act”, according to her.