Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff (CoS)to President Bola Tinubu, has tasked citizens to protect electricity infrastructure within their communities.

Mr Gbajabiamila spoke at the official inauguration of the two 20 MVA injection substations at Randle Mechanic Village, Surulere, Lagos.

The CoS was represented by the senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, Wasiu Eshinlokun.

He said the substations were reliable and capable of alleviating the burden of electricity shortages and catalyse socioeconomic development in the constituency.

“Citizens must protect power infrastructure in their various communities as we expect the electricity distribution companies to address cases of estimated billing and poor meter distribution,” he said.

Mr Gbajabiamila said Mr Tinubu was pleased about the public-private sector partnership between the federal government and Eko Distribution company.

The CoS also said Mr Tinubu’s administration had shown its dedication to solving the power supply challenges in Nigeria with the signing of the 2023 Electricity Act.

“Mr President has made an allocation of over N340 billion in the 2024 budget toward improving infrastructure in the power sector.

“The president is also concerned about cases of energy theft, estimated billing, and stealing of electricity infrastructure,” Mr Gbajabiamila said.

Oritsedere Otubu, the chairman of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, said the project cost not less than N2.5 billion, with a special transformer that would give power to the people of Surulere.

“The CoS has been very supportive of this project when we started; he helped with the land and he also helped in providing one of the 20MVA, which is why we asked for him to commission it.

“If there is any damage to it, we will have no use for it, so please protect it so that we can distribute power to your constituency,” he said.

The chairman said their next focus was Agbara, where they would ensure that the area gets constant power supply.

In his remarks, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State thanked Eko DisCo for the project and prayed that the project would enhance capacity to service customers within their franchise area.

Mr Sanwo-Olu was represented by Abiodun Ogunleye, the Lagos State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, who said he looked forward to the DisCo to also extend the improvement downstream.

(NAN)