Residents of Aba and staff of APL Electric took to the streets Monday morning in a colourful fitness walk aimed at raising public awareness against energy theft, a persistent challenge undermining the performance of Nigeria’s electricity distribution system.
The walk, which began at 8 a.m., was led by Mr. Edise Ekong, Manager of Branding and Communication at APL Electric. Participants wore themed outfits and carried placards with messages such as “Stop Energy Theft”.
Mr. Ekong described energy theft as “a cancer that must be uprooted from our power system.” He said the event was both a community engagement exercise and a strong public appeal for ethical energy consumption.
“We want to promote a culture of responsible energy use. Stealing power not only hurts the distribution company but every paying customer and the stability of the entire grid,” Ekong said.
Several participants agreed that the informal and energetic atmosphere helped bridge the gap between staff and customers. Mrs. Ini Uyo, Manager of Customer Care at APL Electric, said the fitness walk was designed to “create a relaxed setting where staff and customers can bond, have fun, and send a powerful message to the public.”
Chanting slogans in the local Pidgin dialect — “No dey thief light; if dem catch you, you go jail” — the group danced and exercised along major roads in the commercial city.
Mr. Alfred Ategie, speaking on behalf of the campaign, outlined common forms of energy theft, including meter bypass, illegal connections, meter tampering, and load diversion.
“We urge responsible customers to report anyone engaging in these criminal acts,” he said, noting that theft increases operational costs and deprives paying customers of quality service.
Mr. Ekong also highlighted the progress APL Electric has made in reducing unmetered consumption in its service territory.
“We have metered over 90% of our customer base and are providing more meters to customers. This is no small feat, and we ask that customers reciprocate this goodwill by paying for what they consume.”
The campaign received support from several private sector partners including iRecharge, Kayz Consortium, Eve Electric, Master Energy Metering Company, Sabrud, and PalJ Press Africa, who contributed logistics and promotional items.
During the event, the iRecharge team distributed gifts to participants and customers who won physical challenges during the walk.
Context: NERC Data on Energy Losses
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has repeatedly highlighted the impact of Aggregate Technical, Commercial, and Collection (ATC&C) losses — a composite measure of unbilled energy, billing inefficiencies, and uncollected revenue — on the nation’s power sector.
In its Quarter Two 2025 report, NERC reported that the weighted average ATC&C loss across all distribution companies was 37.92 %, significantly higher than the 20.54 % target set under the 2025 Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO). This level of loss translated to an estimated ₦158.05 billion in lost revenue during the period.
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The report also showed that while DisCos billed ₦742.34 billion worth of energy, only ₦564.71 billion was collected, indicating a collection efficiency of 76.07 %, and a billing efficiency of 81.61 %.
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NERC and sector stakeholders have identified energy theft and inadequate metering as key contributors to these losses.
Improved Service in Aba
Local residents noted that power supply in Aba has improved markedly since Geometric Power took over and APL Electric commenced mass metering efforts. Many commended the company for fair billing and more consistent availability of electricity.
