Enetsud Laments the
Vandalisation of Electrical Equipment in Kwara State Communities
Elites
Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), a Kwara-based Civil Society
Organisation, has lamented the incessant vandalisation of electrical equipment
across various parts of Kwara state.
The
civil society organisation in a statement made available to Journalists and
signed by the organisation’s Deputy Coordinator for Special Duties, Mr. Sideeq
Bola Mustapha, ENetSuD noted that government properties have been poorly
maintained, vandalised, and often sabotaged by men of the underworld.
He
further states that “in addition to series of press statement previously
released by ENetSuD on the pitiable state of government infrastructure in
Patigi local government in Kwara state, we are also reporting that this local
government is now a hotspot for criminality and all forms of vandalisation of
electrical installations. These acts have deprived many residents in the
community of the very little share of their electricity supply. In one of their
nefarious activities, it was also reported that the industrial oil of various
transformers in Patigi Township was drained by miscreants about a year ago. In
addition, the armoured cable of another transformer at Ragada village was also
vandalised several months ago. Furthermore, the armoured cables of the
transformers at ECWA Church junction and General Hospital road were equally
stolen by unknown persons- this happened some weeks ago”.
“It
might not be surprising to learn that the vandalisation and theft of Electical
facilities across the state might be a sabotage that are not without the
collaboration of some bad eggs in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)
in those aforementioned communities”, said ENetSuD.
The
statement reads: “This claim could be substantiated with the report that the
recent culprits of some electrical equipment were in the same commercial bus
with Patigi PHCN manager from Patigi to Ilorin. The bus driver, on noticing the
concealed large quantity of stolen PHCN armoured cables in a sack when he
wanted to alight passengers in Ilorin, immediately alerted the Patigi PHCN Manager
who occupied the front seat of the same bus. The driver reported the Manager to
have unexpectedly taken the matter lightly and waved it off by saying “I don’t
know where they could have gotten it from."
“Patigi
residents, who have reported the matter to the NSCDC office in Patigi for
investigation, condemned this act of indifference exhibited by the Manager, as
he was expected to have at least questioned those culprits, seized the armoured
cables and immediately alert the security agencies if they have no reasonable
explanation for being in possession of the P.H.C.N materials.
“The
Patigi branch of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has also
commendably taken proactive measures to forestall the reoccurrence of this
theft by enforcing proper checks of passengers’ luggage at the garage before
departure.
“A
few weeks ago, we were also aware of the theft of armoured cables of another
transformer at Wambai Compound area by unknown criminals. Usually, every
household in any area affected by unfortunate incidents of vandalism and theft
of electrical facilities go through the excruciating pain of compulsorily
contributing particular amounts from their hard earned income. We are lauding
the intervention of the Executive Chairman of Patigi LGA, Alhaji Jibril Salihu
Gabi, who provided the required quantity of armoured cables from the store at
Patigi LGA secretariat for immediate reconnection to the transformers of the
concerned areas, a gesture that had made the residents of the affected areas to
be enjoying the very little share of epileptic power supply along with other
residents in unaffected areas in Patigi LGA.
“We
hereby call on local authorities, security agencies, and government to
collaborate on the protection and maintenance of government properties for the
enjoyment of the citizens.”
