IBEDC Blames Ooni Layout Fire Incident Caused By Unreported Faulty Lines

By Sodiq Lawal

The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has blamed recent fire incident in Ooni Layout, Ile Ife, Osun State on fault on lines in the area that was not reported to the officials of the company by the residents.

It would be recalled that recently, more than six prepaid meters and some electrical appliances belonging to some customers residing in Ooni Layout, Ibadan road, Ile Ife got burnt.

The management of IBEDC, in a statement signed by the company’s Osun Regional Communication and Branding Officer, Kike Owoye, explained that the fire incident would have been prevented, if fault noticed on the lines in the area by the residents had been reported.

The statement added that as soon as the company was informed of the incident, IBEDC technical team covering the area immediately swung into action, cleared the fault and restored power to the community.

The statement reads, “We sincerely empathize with our esteemed customers at Ooni layout in Ile-ife on the recent electrical incidence, whilst urging customers to support her efforts on safety and improved power supply by reporting any electrical faults detected on lines, transformers and other installations before such cause electrical accidents.

“The damage was due to an earlier incidence which was not detected. The regional IBEDC management has been engaging some of the Community heads and also held a community engagement meeting with them to ensure that those customers, whose meters or electronics were damaged got replacement.

“As a customer friendly company, IBEDC advises customers to adhere to the rules of right of way, they should not trade or build under power lines. Traders should also desist from displaying their wares around the transformers and refrain from keeping their goods inside the substation.

“Customers are to ensure use of quality electrical materials that meet safety standard, when constructing their buildings and during house wiring. Customers are also urged that whenever they are leaving their homes, shops and offices, they should ensure that they remove unneeded plugs from their sockets, switch off the lights and all possible appliances.”

“Noting that IBEDC have various complaint channels that our customers can explore, the company urged customers to report anyone suspected to be engaging in energy theft, illegal connection, bypassing, illegal tampering and vandalism to the law enforcement agents and IBEDC officials.

“Such act is tantamount to economic sabotage and could lead to electrocution, electrical accidents, surge, fire outbreak, estimated billing, exorbitant billing, social vices, restiveness and total blackout in the society,” Owoeye concluded.