23 July 2014, Lagos – The Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, Mr Abiodun Ajifowobaje, said that over N1 billion had been deployed to drive various projects within the company.
He stated this during the post privatisation exercise embarked upon by the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE.
According to him, “We have installed and completed all rehabilitated transformers and pending projects within the company, and we are also planning to engage other sources of power supply through embedded generation to ensure we serve our customers better.”
He added that IKEDC was about to introduce metering and billing plans that will enhance transparency in billing and check energy theft.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of BPE, Mr Benjamin Dikki, commended the company over ongoing post-privatisation transformation process in the areas of infrastructure upgrade, enhanced customer service platforms and human capital development in the company.
He noted that eight months after the official handover of the power sector to private operators, IKEDC has shown improvement in customer service delivery, capacity building and network upgrade.
According to him, “I am indeed impressed with the transformation witnessed at the IKEDC after eight months of handing over to private sector. It is also a symbol of change that indicates the operational excellence that is a characteristic feature of private sector driven enterprises.
“We are delighted that all abandoned projects have been brought into operational use because those facilities will go a long way in boosting power supply. Today, we are happy to see the difference between government and private operations in the power sector,” he added.
Dikki said that the post privatisation monitoring exercise was designed to identify areas where the government can be of assistance to the DISCOs and reaffirmed government support on sundry post-privatisation activities that will impact the sector positively.
“IKEDC has shown good initiatives towards sustaining effective customer service delivery and prompt response to complaints. This is a welcome departure from the past. The establishment of Customer Care and Call centre is a clear indication of the level of service that IKEDC has for its customers.”
*Sebastine Obasi – Vanguard