The Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) has said the company loses N1.6 billion, constituting 50 per cent of electricity supply in Niger State to energy theft and vandalism.

The company made this known during a media parley and stakeholders' engagement organised by the company to sensitise customers on the ongoing transformation in the energy sector to achieve efficient energy supply to homes in the Niger zone which was held in Minna, the Niger State capital.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Engr Chijioke Okwuokenye, said the theft was done through bypassing of meters, illegal connections, resistance to metering among other means by customers.

"The average energy loss in Niger State is in excess of 50 per cent, amounting to N1.6 billion.

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"But the company is upscaling staff and facilities to drive transformation and address customers' complaints. We have a road map to ensure that customers are well served. We are also doing a lot on renewable energy to ensure that clean energy is supplied to the customers," he said.

Also speaking, the Chief Business Officer, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Niger Zone, Engr Sam Odekina, revealed that no fewer than 80 bypassed prepaid meters are discovered daily in Minna, the state capital alone, lamenting that similar things happen across the 25 LGAs in the state.

He said the energy that comes to Niger State on a monthly basis is about N3.6 billion but the company gets back only N850 million out of the N2.5 billion monthly target from headquarters.

He said the company had so far replaced 6,150 meters in Niger State from its coffers.