Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna Electric has expressed great concern over the high frequency of incidents of vandalism of electrical installations across its franchise. In the face of the difficult challenge, however, it said it is doing a lot to tackle the menace.
The Chief Technical Officer, Engr Lawal Aliyu Mashi, disclosed in a statement that, “about 172 cases of vandalism were reported across the four franchise states of the company between July and September this year”. He added that the company lost N138,056,343 worth of equipment within the period.
Citing examples of some of the incidences within the period, the statement said 42 meters of earthing cable was vandalised at Abakpa Injection Substation while four meters of 500MM2 neutral incomer cables were also stolen at Katuru Village in Badarawa, Kaduna. In Jere, the statement said since the community was put out of supply due to payment default, 174 spans of aluminum cables, 22 HT poles, 20 upriver cables, 34 cross arms, 142 channel irons and one set of feeder pillar units had been vandalised. In Gusau, Zamfara state, 12 spans of 150mm aluminum conductor was vandalised. Similarly, the 300KVA FECT 2 substation was vandalised with a 300mm 2 single core cable stolen.
Highlighting some of the efforts being done to combat the spate of vandalism in its franchise, Kaduna Electric’s Chief Security Officer, Col. Ubale Abubakar (rrd), said the company has stepped up engagements with security agencies including the military, police, and civil defence corps to help with the arrest and prosecution of suspects.
