By Sunday Ogli, Makurdi
JOS Electricity Distribution Plc, has sensitised customers in Makurdi, Benue State capital on the upgrading of some feeders in the state to higher bands in order to increase electricity supply to the customers.
The customers according to a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications, Dr Friday Adakole Elijah were drawn from feeders in Otukpo, Gboko and Makurdi.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Engr Abdu Bello Mohammed, explained to the customers that the sensitization exercise was meant to conscientise them on the implications of migrating them to a higher band.
Engr Mohammed who was represented by the Regional Manager, Makurdi Region, Mr Joseph Terfa Kwaghgba, said “in whom much is given, much is expected.
“We invited you here to inform you that we have upgraded your feeders to higher bands because we want you to enjoy an almost uninterrupted power supply but let it be known that your tariff will change to the current reality. Your monthly energy charge will now be more than what you were paying before”.
To support this upgrade, Management had seriously invested billions of naira in solidifying the company’s network stressing that, “our staff are readily on the ground to expeditiously attend to faults. We want to serve you in such a manner that will gladden your hearts. Our customers are our kings and we, therefore crave to serve you to your satisfaction”.
To familiarise customers with the upgraded bands, the Head of Customers Care, Mr Lucky Akpobi displayed all the newly upgraded feeders with their new tariffs.
He urged customers to brace up for the new reality which he said would guarantee them more energy supply stressing that “as you take more energy, you should also endeavour to pay for your consumed energy as at when due. The energy is not free”.
In his presentation, the Chief Security Officer of the company, Mallam Musa Abdullahi who decried the high spate of vandalism on the company’s network called on the customers to take ownership of electricity installations in their domains.
Abdullahi explained that apart from the negation of security of the community whose transformers or other installations were vandalized, the economic and social activities will be dislocated as the affected communities would find themselves in a state of quandary.
To halt the tide, the Chief Security Officer, therefore, urged customers to help protect electricity facilities in their various localities.
“Please, if you see any suspicious movement around our transformers, ask questions and if you are not satisfied with the answers given, report the matter to the security agents as quickly as possible,” he urged the customers.
Also speaking, the Regional Manager, Otukpo, Engr Olaniyi Ogumakinwa, advised customers to take advantage of the current Meters Asset Providers to get themselves metered to avoid disputation on energy billing especially now that electricity supply was going to be higher than what it used to be.
The Head of Safety, Mr Alvinmax Cyprian Yenkwo on his part admonished customers to be safety conscious as according to him, “Electricity is a very friendly but dangerous commodity”.
He took the customers through the various safety tips and what to do in case of an emergency.
In their separate remarks, a Director in the office of the Head of Service, Benue State, Mr Elijah Dogo and Alhaji Tanimu of the Judges Quarters amongst others all commended Jos Disco for regular and steady power supply in Benue State.
