'We do not tolerate electricity power theft' - VGC issues statement on 15 residents to be prosecuted for by-passing Eko Electric Distribution meters

Following reports that at least 15 residents of Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah, on Lekki-Epe Expressway are to be prosecuted for their alleged involvement in energy theft from Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), the Victoria Garden City Property Owners and Residents Association (VGCPORA) has issued an official statement saying that it was the association that brought the meter tampering incidents in the estate, which was the subject of the recent media briefing by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), to the attention of the Electricity Distribution Company.

According to the Chairman of VGCPORA, Architect Olusegun P. Ladega FNIA, "not only did we expose the incidents and residences where bypass of meters occurred, we encouraged the EKEDC to prosecute those residents engaged in this illegal activity, and we shall continue to deploy our internal management mechanism to identify cases of meter tampering.

The Managing Director of (EKEDC) Mr. Adeoye Fadeyibi, had at the media briefing stated that ‘’no fewer than 15 residents of Victoria Garden City (VGC), are to be prosecuted for their alleged involvement in energy theft’’.

The statement further reads, 'VGCPORA also observed, that individual metering was not introduced in the estate a few months ago following agitations by residents for individual metering and billing, as claimed by the Managing Director of EKEDC. Ladega pointed out, that ‘’from inception more than 25 years ago, VGC residents were individually metered and billed’’. He also added that‘’ despite residences having individual meters, VGC was billed as a single customer from June 2007 to July 2008, an arrangement that was declared illegal by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, thus leading to a reversion to status quo of individual metering and billing.’’