EKEDC reaffirms commitment to major investments in infrastructure development
By Yunus Yusuf
Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has renewed its commitment to substantial network infrastructure development, with a focus on improved service across its network.
Mrs Rekhiat Momoh, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, made this known during the Island Customers Consultative Forum held in Lagos on Thursday.
The Business intelligence (TBI) reports that the forum was attended by customers from various areas, including Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Obalende, Dolphin Estate and Falomo.
Momoh, represented by Mr Joseph Esenwa, Chief Finance Officer, EKEDC, emphasised that EKEDC remains dedicated to replacing faulty transformers and investing in new ones.
According to her, these are crucial for the company’s exceptional performance.
She also highlighted the company’s goal of improving customer satisfaction by the end of the year.
“We have made significant investments in infrastructure to ensure that our customers receive an effective power supply.
“We have come a long way, and our objective remains to provide all customers with safe, reliable, and uninterrupted electricity,” she said.
She also made it clear that the responsibility of repairing faulty transformers does not lie with the customers.
“It is not the responsibility of customers to repair faulty transformers.
“If a transformer is faulty, residents should report it to the nearest EKEDC office, and no one should be asked to pay for its repair,” she added.
Momoh strongly condemned instances where communities were asked to contribute money for the repair or replacement of faulty transformers, labeling such actions as fraudulent and unacceptable.
She urged residents to report any staff member who makes such illegal demands to the business manager for appropriate disciplinary action.
Momoh said, “We do not collect money from communities or residents to fix transformers.
“If anyone asks you for money, escalate the issue and we will take strict action.”
The EKEDC CEO also appealed to residents in the island district to support the company’s efforts in protecting power installations, warning that assaulting EKEDC staff on duty is a criminal offense.
Additionally, Momoh addressed concerns related to Band A customers who have not received the required 20-hour supply.
She assured them that the company, in compliance with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), would compensate affected customers and take the necessary steps to address the issue.
“We have a structured process for compensation and will take action according to the laid-down procedures,” she added.
Regarding the issue of vandalism, illegal connections and energy theft, Momoh reiterated EKEDC’s zero-tolerance policy, warning that the company would take legal action against anyone found guilty of such activities.
She called on residents to support the company in its fight against these illegal practices.
“We’ve had several cases of vandalism, reckless driving, and illegal reconnections this year, and we need the cooperation of our communities to tackle these issues,” she said.
In a related development, Mr Gbadebo Akinyede, EKEDC’s Head of Metering, discussed plans to train meter installers across the network to improve the efficiency and accuracy of meter installations.
He acknowledged the challenges of ensuring easy access to meters and reported that the company was intensifying efforts to address this issue, with approximately 10 per cent of customers caught bypassing meters.
Mr Cletus Onyekwu, Head of Health, Safety, and Environment at EKEDC, cautioned customers against engaging unauthorised electricians when their power supply is faulty.
He stressed that it is illegal to use “NEPA 2” or local electricians for repairs.
Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Muse, Chairman of the Victoria Island and Ikoyi Association, commended EKEDC for its timely communication with customers during faults.
However, he encouraged the company to invest more in fault detection technology to provide better notifications to customers.
He said that the forum also provided a platform for communities to resolve lingering electricity-related issues.
He said that the resolutions from the forum will be communicated to the various communities, with an emphasis on supporting EKEDC’s ongoing efforts to improve service delivery.
