The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has called for a stronger partnership with customers and the media to combat the dual challenges of vandalism and low revenue.
During an interactive session in Minna on Thursday, Head of Brand Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mr. Omede Odekina, explained that while seasonal weather and technical faults contribute to outages, energy theft and sabotage remain the primary drivers of instability.
The company revealed a staggering financial gap, with Chief Business Officer Samuel Odekina disclosing that monthly energy costs in the region average N5.5 billion, yet less than 50% of that amount is successfully collected.
This deficit has left the company operating at a loss, prompting an aggressive metering rollout. While Band A customers are being prioritized, others are encouraged to utilize the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme to ensure billing transparency and help stabilize the utility’s finances.
AEDC officials urged residents to embrace the “See Something, Say Something” initiative to protect local installations.
Vandalism, they noted, often leaves entire communities in darkness and places immense pressure on an already strained distribution network.
The company maintained that while it is ready to supply more power, public cooperation in reporting theft and protecting equipment is essential for sustained service improvements.