Business
Eko DISCO Loses N50m Monthly To Equipment Vandals
The Chief Executive Of
ficer, Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDP), Mr Oladele Amoda, said that over N50 million was being lost monthly to electricity equipment vandalism within its network.
Amoda disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Lagos against the backdrop of continuous power outage within EKEDP network.
He condemned the increasing equipment vandalism within its operations, adding that it has forced the company to spend money meant for other electricity development projects on repairs.
He said that electricity materials, such as cables and wires, among others, had either been stolen or vandalised within its operations.
He said that some areas where equipment vandalism had been rampant are Apapa, Mushin, Ikoyi, Ajegunle and Festac of Lagos State.
According to him, equipment such as 300KVA and 500KVA are being destroyed in Eko Disco monthly.
“Vandalism of electricity installations in the areas has become a problem, and within the past four months, the unit has recorded further acts of vandalism of nine transformer substations.
“Most times the vandals carted away eight metres of 150mm2x4 core cable, cable sockets and ferrules.
“We have raised alarm over the increasing rate of vandalism of our equipment in recent time, while we have also beefed up surveillance, ‘’ he said.
Amoda, therefore, called for the review of existing laws on vandalism of electricity equipment and other public facilities and their replacement, saying that there is the need for stiffer penalties against culprits.
The officer said that the stringent laws and penalty would help reduce and possibly eradicate the nefarious act.
He added that the existing laws against vandalism of electricity equipment were lenient on culprits, hence the need for their review.
He decried a situation whereby a convicted vandal only bags two or three months jail term after causing indelible damage to the economic and social wellbeing of Nigerians who were affected by acts of vandalism.
The Eko Disco boss pointed out that vandalism of electricity equipment and other public utility facilities was a serious act of economic sabotage and should be treated as such.
He said that sales of public power equipment such as transformers, aluminium conductors and armoured cables should be regulated to make it difficult for vandalised electricity equipment to be taken to open market for sale.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
