By POLYCARP AUTA

The Jos Electricity Distribution Plc (JED) said it would deploy drones and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras to tackle the incessant destruction of its equipment by vandals.

Mr Abdu Mohammed, the Managing Director of the company, disclosed this at ongoing Customers Complaints Resolution Meeting organised by the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Tuesday in Jos.

Mahommed, who decried the spate of vandalism of its equipment, noted that the move to adopt technology in tackling the menace was laudable.

”In addition to the use of drones and CCTV cameras, security operatives have been mobilised and well-detailed to aid the company in apprehending criminals who are bent on vandalising electricity facilities.

“We advise and appeal to communities to take ownership of installations in their localities. This will help in safeguarding transformers and other electrical equipment in their domains,” he said.

The managing director assured its customers of steady and quality power supply, once the activities of vandals were curtailed.

On the need for individuals or companies to invest in meter procurement, the JED boss said regulators now allowed third parties, largely non-licensed operators, to invest in the system through a project agreement.

“Any individual, corporate organisation or community that wants to invest in the system now has the opportunity to do so.

“A structured repayment programme is also fashioned into the agreement,” he said.

Mohammed also promised that the company would soon make more meters available for its unmetered customers, adding that it would soon inject 417, 000 meters into its network.

According to him, JED has sealed all contractual agreements with meter providers, the world bank, and National Mass Metering Programme (NMP) toward the actualisation of its planned metering.

“With World Bank Intervention in process, we expect 305,000 from the phase one of NMP, we also expect another over 100,000 in the World Bank Intervention Programme and currently, we have 12,000 meters purchased just two days ago.

“We have the MAP still in progress with other initiatives in place, our customers will see traction in this direction,” Mohammed said. (NAN)

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