PHCN expends N100m on vandalized facilities on Lagos Island

Tag : Feeder Pillars

INCESSANT vandalisation of electricity equipment in the IslandBusiness District of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc(PHCN) has gulped about N100 million in the recent past. The menace, which the utility company described as a majorhindrance to regular electricity supply in the network, washappening the 50th time in three months.

Expressing his dissatisfaction at the action, the Business Managerof the District, Mr. Abiodun Ajifowobaje, an engineer, said theoperations of the vandals had taken a new dimension as they nowcome fully armed with guns and other forms of weapons to perpetratetheir evil act.

He, however, appealed to the Lagos State Government, the NigeriaPolice and other security service agents in the state to help thecompany and the innocent residents in combating the crime.Ajifowobaje, who was briefing the press in his office recentlysaid:

“For sometime now, PHCN distribution facilities in Ikoyi andVictoria Island have suffered persistent vandalisation.Distribution equipment like transformers, feeder pillars, high andlow voltage cables and aluminium conductors have been vandalisedand carted away. Over 50 substations have been vandalised with allthe affected areas in the network being thrown into darkness formonths.”

The consequence of the action, he said, is far-reaching, as thefunds that are supposed to be invested in expanding and upgradingthe existing facilities are now being expended on damagedequipment.

Noting that the Nigeria Police Command in the network has aided thearrest of some of the perpetrators who are now in court forprosecution, he urged that more proactive action be taken tocurtail them from damaging the facilities in the firstplace.Ajifowobaje, who just resumed duty in the district a monthago, expressing his vision for improving service delivery in thedistrict, implored electricity consumers to cooperate with thecompany in fighting the vandals in order to actualise the vision.

“I want to use this forum to ask for the combined assistanceof the Police, the Army, the State Security Service and mostimportantly, Lagos State Government to come to our rescue in Ikoyiand Victoria Island.
Our situation in Victoria Island and Ikoyi is critical and we arecalling on well_meaning Nigerians to come to our assistant to driveout vandals from our network,” he said.Never get tired ofdoing little things to others, because sometimes those littlethings may mean so much to them.