The shortfall in electricity supply at Igando, Lagos, has been attributed to frequent vandalism of transformer and other facilities.

Ikeja Electric Plc., the company incharge of distribution in the area disclosed this, calling for community support in protecting critical infrastructure.

According to the firm’s Corporate Communications head, Felix Ofulue, power supply to Igando has been greatly compromised, no thanks to vandalism.

He said: “The criminal activities have currently plunged over 6,000 households and businesses located in and around Igando into darkness. They largely target transformers and carted away single core and up-riser cables worth millions of naira.

“In the past two week, over 24 transformers were vandalized in Igando, leaving our customers in total darkness and this is quite worrisome considering the discomfort and economic loss to this community. It is quite troubling and intolerable because innocent customers are suffering.”

Ofulue noted that the cost of replacing the stolen assets was huge and would take some time to restore.
While explaining that the company is partnering with security agencies to track culprits, he encouraged vigilant members of the community to report suspected vandals to the appropriate authorities.

“These vandals sometimes operate from within the community. They keep the stolen assets somewhere.

They sell to someone. It is possible that one or two people may see something. So, we are calling on these vigilant and patriotic members of the community to speak up, so we can nip this in the bud. Don’t forget that as a business, it is counter-productive to keep replacing assets in a particular location, spending our limited resources, when we could be expanding the network and improving supply in another,” he said.

Warning perpetrators of the dangers of their actions, Ofulue said the company recently secured conviction of one Ahmed Umar, 31, adding that he was sentenced to six months in prison without an option of fine.