Jos electricity coy gives condition for free meters
The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) yesterday said only consumers who have paid part of their outstanding bills would be entitled to the free meters presently being distributed in Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Benue States.
Following increase in the rate of kidnapping and deaths of Igbos in Calabar, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, has summoned all security chiefs, traditional rulers and Igbo leaders in Calabar.
Addressing them, the Obong condemned the action, which he described as troubling. “This kidnapping of the Igbos is very intolerable. Unfortunately, even in the course of paying the ransom the kidnappers pick their wives or husbands as the case may be, and ask them to go
JEDC had in April commenced the distribution of 120,000 meters in its four franchise states, however, the company’s Head of Public Relations, Lubabatu Rabiu, said “we have meters of high standard and they are still being distributed free of charge to customers who will pay off even part of their outstanding bills.”
Lubabatu, who was addressing stakeholders in Plateau State, during and look for more money. Honestly, this is harrowing and intolerable. The development is also impacting negatively on the economy of the state. It is not the best.
“As royal fathers, if we keep quiet it would mean that we are condoning, supporting or even allowing this crime to persist. We must look at this untoward development critically and ensure that it does not continue.
“What is uppermost is the security situation of our state. We cannot afford to toy with it. We invited the state commissioner of police, state director of the SSS, state security adviser and local government chairmen because of the importance of this meeting.
“The lives and businesses of our people, especially the Igbo brothers are affected, and that is of much concern to all of us. These people perpetrating this inglorious act of kidnapping are not ghosts; they are human beings and may even be living amongst us or may be visitors,” he said.
The monarch said a committee may be set up to investigate the matter and present a report to the governor.
The Igbo leaders present at the meeting said they were all living in fear in Calabar, where most of them have spent over 50 years. the company’s ongoing Customer Consultative Forum, said poor supply of gas to generation companies which supply the Disco with energy that is distributed to end users has been the cause of poor power supply in the four states.
“We cannot give what we don’t have. The effect of pipeline vandalisation and gas explosions in the Niger-Delta region is daunting our efforts to distribute power supply in Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe and Benue States,” she said.
The PRO warned customers to avoid energy theft as the company will no longer ask culprits to pay fine but will prosecute them.
Stakeholders at the forum urged the company to solve the issues of overloaded transformers as well as ensure that the prepaid meters are distributed freely.
Kidnapping: Obong of Calabar summons Igbo leaders, security chiefs