The Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JED Plc) has held a strategic engagement meeting with local security outfits to address rising cases of vandalism and to strengthen electricity supply within the area.
Speaking during the meeting, the Head of Corporate Services, Musa Abdullahi, who led the JED Plc delegation, noted that while electricity supply has significantly improved in recent weeks, vandalism remains a major threat to stable power delivery.
“We are recording noticeable improvement in power supply, but vandalism of our installations continues to jeopardize our efforts,” Abdullahi said. “We urge residents and the security teams to intensify vigilance and promptly report any suspicious activity or faults to JED Plc. They must also desist from engaging unlicensed technicians popularly known as NEPA2.”
He stressed the importance of timely bill payments, adding that improved revenue would further enhance service delivery.
JED Plc team members at the engagement included Adamu Baki and Ibrahim Rufa’i (both Feeder Managers), Suleiman Saidu (Network Engineer), Murtala Wali (RPU Unit), and Aisha Adamu (Security Supervisor).
The meeting was convened at the instance of the Divisional Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area, Alice Pisagi. It was also supported by the representative of the Executive Chairman of Deba Local Government Council, Mr. Saidu Mele.
Other key participants included Mr. Umar Aliyu, Secretary of the Dadin Kowa Development Association, and Mr Haruna Isa, Treasurer of the association. The engagement further brought together village heads, community leaders, local security outfits, and selected electricity customers drawn from across the LGA.
Commandants of various local security outfits present at the meeting — Suleiman Sa’idu and Ali Hassan — expressed concerns over frequent vandalism and highlighted recent arrests made in the area.
They appealed for increased support from JED Plc to further strengthen their operations.
“Our men are doing their best to protect the installations, and we have arrested some vandals recently,” one of the security leaders stated. “But we need more support to sustain this selfless service.”
Representing the Chairman, the District Security Officer, Mr Sa’idu Mele, commended JED Plc for initiating the timely engagement.
“This meeting came at the right time. All the issues raised were thoroughly addressed, and we appreciate the company’s openness,” Mele said. “We are happy with the way JED Plc presented their position and responded to our concerns.”
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), JED Plc fulfilled an earlier promise by donating torchlights to the local security outfits to aid their night patrols.
“We made a promise and we have kept it,” Abdullahi noted while handing over the items.
The engagement ended with renewed commitments from both JED Plc and the security outfits to work collaboratively in safeguarding electricity infrastructure for the benefit of the community.
