Kensely Achife, the managing director/chief executive officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), has appealed to customers to endeavour to pay their bills promptly.

Mr Achife made appeal at the inauguration of 1x15mva, 33/11kv injection substation at Budo-Osho, on Taoheed Road, Ilorin on Thursday.

He said that timely payment of bills would enable the company to serve the customers better.

He said that the installation of the facilities would help to power 18,000 urban homes.

Achife further said that the company was committed to providing reliable and standard energy to boost the economy of the state and make life more meaningful for the people.

He urged the communities to jealously guard the facility against acts of vandalism.

He identified the problem of insecurity in the country as one the challenges hindering effective operations of the company.

IBEDC boss expressed displeasure that many staff members of the company had suffered a series of attacks, including kidnapping and harassment, among others.

He said that the company also recorded the highest number of vandalism in Kwara.

According to him, “A lot of security incidents have been recorded in places like New Bussa, Pategi and part of Kogi.

“We suffered kidnapping, harassment of our workers and beating that need to stop.

“Last month alone, we recorded about 20 cases of vandalism.

“We want the communities to help us in this regard,” Mr Achife said.

He argued that energy theft does a lot of harm to the public because it could lead to increase in tariff.

“So, if we can stop that and more people willing to participate, instead of stealing it, then the cost of energy will come down,” he said.

Mr Achife, who decried the willingness of customers to pay electricity bills, urged them to have a change of attitude.

He gave assurance that the new injection substation would enhance electricity distribution within the communities and the state at large.

He also said that the facility would bring about better quality supply of power to the residents.

“With this investment, we need people to take power from it and pay for it.

“We are hoping that industries will come around, because what actually drives energy in the world are industries.

“Residential buildings also important but it is industries that cause us to make more investment,” he said.

In a remark, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara  congratulated the benefiting communities.

The governor, represented by the state commissioner for special duties, John Bello, appealed to the communities to take ownership of the facility

He advised them to make good use of it and protect it from vandalism in order to realise the set objective.

The coordinating head, corporate services, Angela Olarewaju, said the facility was part of the company’s efforts to improve electricity supply to its customers.

“With this inauguration, the affected communities will get improved and steady power supply,” Mr Olarewaju said.

She described the high rate of vandalism and unwillingness by the people to pay for what they consume, especially in Kwara, as some of the major challenges affecting steady power supply.

She advised the consumers of electricity to support the company through safeguarding its facilities and prompt payment of bills.

(NAN)