Avoid building near electricity facilities, EKEDC urges customers

Avoid building near electricity facilities, EKEDC urges customers

CHIGOZIE AMADI

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) has warned customers against encroaching on its Right of Way (RoW) or building illegal structures near its electricity facilities.

Mrs Rekhiat Momoh, Acting Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, made this call at the Ojo Customers Consultative Forum, held in Lagos on Thursday.

TheBusiness intelligence (TBI Africa) reports that customers at the forum were drawn from Ojo Business Unit, which covers Isashi, Mabaonu, Afro media and Celestial Market.

Others include Iba town, Iba new site, Agboroko, Igbo-Elerin, Ojo, Alaba, Agric, Okoko, Shibiri, Riverine and Jakande area.

Momoh was represented by Mr Joseph Esenwa, EKEDC’s Chief Finance Officer, emphasised the importance of maintaining safe distances from high-voltage electricity infrastructure.

“Building near or under high-voltage electricity facilities is not only illegal but extremely dangerous.

“Such structures expose individuals to the risk of electrocution, especially during unexpected line breaks,” she warned.

Momoh stressed that the safety of EKEDC’s customers is paramount, noting that the company would not be held responsible for the consequences of any violations of the RoW regulations.

She also called on customers to adhere to the proper guidelines when constructing buildings, whether residential, commercial, or religious, near electricity facilities.

In addition to safety concerns, Momoh addressed the issue of illegal connections within the network, urging continued collaboration with customers to improve service delivery.

“The engagement with our customers has led to significant improvements in our service, and we remain committed to addressing issues promptly and efficiently,” she said.

On the matter of staff safety, Momoh also warned against the assault of EKEDC personnel on duty.

“We have a zero-tolerance policy on assaults against our staff, and we urge customers to resolve any grievances through diplomatic channels rather than resorting to violence,” she stated.

In terms of financial performance, Momoh reported an increase in EKEDC’s revenue collection, with a notable reduction in technical, commercial and collection losses.

She encouraged customers to continue settling their bills promptly and make use of various payment platforms to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

“EKEDC remains focused on improving the quality of its service through infrastructure upgrades, enhanced metering solutions, and better customer engagement.

“We are actively working to close the metering gap and are committed to ensuring stable power supply across all districts,” Momoh affirmed.

Mr Olabisi Samuel, Chairman of the Electricity Committee in Iba Town, commended EKEDC for its prompt fault responses and urged the company to focus on resolving issues related to low-shedding of electricity supply in Ojo.

He also emphasised the need for more community education to prevent the construction of buildings under high-tension wires.

Samuel called for further collaboration between EKEDC and the communities, ensuring that all complaints are addressed in a timely manner and that residents help protect the company’s facilities.

He acknowledged that the stakeholders forum was concluded with a mutual commitment to fostering better relations and addressing the challenges faced by both EKEDC and its customers.