The Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Ilorin, has developed a prototype anti-theft device that can remotely monitor and detect customers stealing electricity.

According to the acting head of the department, M. Akorede, the device, which can also cut the main supply to the location of such illegal act, will simultaneously send a message to the utility control room to alert the system operator with the customers’ details displayed on the control panel.

Mr. Akorede disclosed that the Unilorin Laboratory to Product Centre (LABTOP) has started the processes for patenting the invention.
He said that the invention was put together by him and some students of the department.
The students, who are currently on National Youth Service, are T. Olalekan, R. Adepoju, D. Itodo and M. Dickson.

“I gave the project to my undergraduate students; they carried out the project to a level and I took it over and brought it to a level that was up to a standard that we presented it at the NURESDEF, Abuja, a couple of months ago,” he said.

He noted that the invention is now up to the standard that it can be patented.
“I have brought this to the attention of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) although not officially… if adopted, the device would enable distribution companies to cut their commercial losses substantially.”

Commenting further, he said, “People like to use electricity without paying for it. A lot of people that have been able to get the prepaid meter even though they can afford to pay their bills still want to bypass this thing to steal electricity and this is not helping the companies; it is not helping all of us as a whole. If the industry should collapse, everybody would bear the brunt of that problem and that is why the consumers too have to share out of the problem.”

While noting that distribution companies (DISCOs) also have their share of the blame by not wanting to take on responsibilities such as faulty transformers, Mr. Akored bemoaned the lack of political will, inadequate funding as well as obsolete infrastructure in the industry for the current problem associated with power failures in the country.

He. However, pointed out that the tripartite arms of generation, transmission and distribution lack adequate funding in the sense that some of their equipment are over-aged and need to be replaced.
“They need funding to expand their facilities such that a transformer, for example, will not be overloaded, because if power is supplied to an overloaded transformer, it means the customers will not enjoy good quality electricity supply,” he said.

The head of department also noted that the current clamour for generation companies to sell power directly to consumers may not make much difference in boosting power supply to Nigerians.
“Technically, I don’t think it would work out fine; I don’t think there is going to be much difference as such… that is likely to add to the problem in the energy industry because we already have people managing distribution while another is managing transmission from generation companies to make it available to distribution companies.

“Each of these stakeholders is looking at the specific roles given to them. So, if it is now muddled up again, I think there will be problem in the society,” he submitted.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/233077-unilorin-develops-device-to-check-electricity-theft.html

cc: lalasticlala

That's a welcome development....we only hope the project will go forward from here

I am a proud product of BETTER BY FAR university

I wonder how the Nigerian mind was wired
Just to cheat each other, from the leaders to the followers
In sane places
Every body pays their bills

I keep saying it
The Americans don't even like themselves
But they love their country

God bless America

Dem try
Next please..

Very good.

But knowing Nigerians....someone will soon invent a device to block the device.

Lets wait and see if it will be put into use

I rep unilorin.... We re d best

nice one

Na who send them?
Make dem wait till them grad and no see job and no fit afford pay and the same thing dem develop will hunt them.
Nigeria is not a normal clime where normal things work!
Btw, I'm sure itll end in the pages of newspapers.

Lol. Yawa don gas for some people. I know some folks that don't even feel guilty stealing power from PHCN.

They feel , those people are thieves too just like Mtn and dstv. Thief don dey thief thief.

This does not sound like a new invention to me

Ok





Nxt news is?

YINKS89:
I rep unilorin.... We re d best

can I hear somebody shout "BETTER BY FAR"

Good invention but who told this prof Nepa is concerned about electricity theft , PHCN is more concerned about how to maximise it's own theft by selling darkness to consumers under the guise of estimated billing

We are getting their... Last we we launched a missile now how to block our innovation of tapping electricity that is not even regular. It's well.

Oga o.

Dem go cut papa emeka light be that.

Good development. But if Electricity authority did their own side of job well, nobody will gladly be involved in power stealing.

I see someone else trying to invent another device to frustrate this invention. If peradventure he doesn't succeed, den make effort to secure the unilorin lecturer and em boiz wey carry out d invention before boiz without joy go nak dem down!

But smart meters are already doing since 2005 in some countries

wonderful achievement....

You're a product of Fulani makaranta and you will still come here to abuse Sai Baba.

OZAOEKPE:
I am a proud product of BETTER BY FAR university

Nice one from Better By Far

Good development.

good one

This is a welcome development... Those stealing electricity will not like this...
Someone should help me with that picture that says "which kind wahala be this"...

Where is the electricity wey una wan detect?

OZAOEKPE:
I am a proud product of BETTER BY FAR university

Lol.so u are a product of unilorin and you will be talking as if you've not been to the north before.

Who give them this kind project nah . Make guys no do runs again ?