Saturday, November 9, 2024 -The Jos Electricity Distribution (JED) management has reported extensive damage to its infrastructure following a recent power outage across the northern region. Over 80 transformers within JED's franchise areas were vandalized and looted, alongside significant theft of cables critical to power supply. Plateau State was reported as the hardest hit by these thefts and acts of vandalism, which disrupted power restoration efforts for affected communities.
Speaking to Daily Trust on Friday, November 8, Eng.
Hamisu Wakili Jigawa, JED’s Chief Technical Officer, highlighted the extent of
the damage and its impact on the company’s operations. "The vandalism of
transformers and theft of cables created serious challenges for us. Entire
lines were stripped, and aluminum conductors feeding entire communities were
completely looted," he said. Jigawa noted that around 213 kilovolt
circuits were affected, leaving some communities without power for several days
before the final circuit was restored just yesterday.
He explained that in many cases, vandals not only took cables but also
dismantled transformers, removing essential components such as oil and coils,
leaving only empty shells behind. The losses included a substantial number of
distribution assets, which will require time and resources to replace.
Jigawa called on local communities to increase vigilance and security measures to protect electrical assets. He stressed that continued vandalism would leave communities in prolonged darkness and hinder the company’s ability to maintain consistent power supply.
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