The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has launched its 24-hour ‘Mobile Map’ campaign in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, Osun State, in a bid to reduce the process of metering for social and economic growth.
The IBEDC crew moved round major parts of Ile-Ife including Lagere, Sabo, Fajuyi, Moore, Enuwa, Ondo Road, Mayfair, Eleyele, Parakin and Modakeke areas to spread the news through direct talks and distribution of fliers.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that some of the customers were metered during the campaign on Thursday.
The Business Manager, Ile-Ife Business Hub of the IBEDC, Mr Olumide Akinradewo, said the new metering initiative would help to address the lingering meter deficit in the area for optimum performance.
“We have more than enough meters that would go round our customers within Ile-Ife and its environs, so there’s no shortage of meter at all.
“I want to assure our customers that they would not regret partnering with us; we believe we’ll have positive feedback and testimonies from them,” Akinradewo stated.
Also, the Public Relations Officer of the IBEDC, Mrs Kikelomo Owoeye, explained that the meters have passed through all necessary quality assurance tests and evaluation.
Owoeye urged customers to approach any IBEDC office in Ile-Ife and its environment with their bills and identity cards.
She stated further that one of the staff would follow the customer to his house to ascertain the type of meter to use and to ensure that the wires that connect the house were not connected illegally.
According to her, after the technical evaluation is ascertained, within 24 hours, the meter would be connected.
One of the customers, Mrs Olayemi Adekunle, who was metered within 24 hours of payment, expressed satisfaction with the process, saying that she was very happy to have prepaid meter because it gives her confidence.
“Immediately there’s light, the meter continues to read; the IBEDC would not cheat me and I would not cheat them as well.
“The process of acquiring a meter has become so easy; I paid today and I got metered today. l’m going to get more in my other houses,” Adekunle stated.
The customer noted that the arrangement was better than the estimated billing, saying “if they can give it to everyone, we would have peace.”
Adekunle noted that if there was regular supply of electricity, people could work and it would grow the economy.
