50 percent of Nigeria’s electricity is stolen by consumers, BEDC alleges

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu has alleged that at-least 50 percent of Nigeria’s electricity generated are stolen by consumers of electricity across the country, especially customers under Benin Electricity Distribution Company network.

Mrs. Funke Osibodu made the disclosure at BEDC Cooperate Headquarters in Benin City, Edo State during a media parley with selected Journalists on the activities of the company’s operations so far.

The BEDC Boss used the opportunity to unveil the new coverall and kit-up of BEDC staff, which she said is to differentiate between its staff and non-staff, just as she warned that anyone not with the company’s complete kit-up will be arrested.

The Chief Cooperate Officer BEDC, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi revealed that BEDC plans to recruit 500 staff into its workforce in order to boost efficiency and increase its manpower. She added that so far 80 people have been employed after their internship training and that more will be added as soon as they complete their training.

Cross Section of BEDC intensive trainees

The Head Enforcement, Col. Isaac Edoka (Rtd.) stated that BEDC intends to eliminate all illegal connections on its network in Edo, Delta, Ekiti and Ondo States, noting that the company will soon embark on removal of about 600 transformers from 33KVA lines across its network in the four States and reconnect the consumers to the regular domestic lines of 11KVA.

The MD/CEO explained that the Udu Area in Delta State is shut down due to destruction of BEDC properties, promising to reconnect Udu as soon as they resolve the issues involved.

Mrs. Osibodu further stated that BEDC requires about 1,200-1,500 megawatts of electricity for 24hrs power supply within its coverage area, while the entire country is currently having about 1,775megawatts and that BEDC is having 159 megawatts to service four states.

She however appealed to those vandalizing the gas lines to desist from doing so, saying it is taking the country into worse power outages.

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