UNILORIN develops device to check electricity theft

Date: 2017-06-06

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.

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Aisha Gobir     Asa LGEA School     Imam Gambari     Femi Oladiji     Okanlawon Taiwo     Jimoh Saadudeen Muhammed     Yusuf Arowosaye     Ishaq Salman     Abdullateef Abdussalam     Abdulkadir Jimoh     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Seni Saraki     NNPP     Ilofa     Alabere     Amuda Bembe     Ariyo     Iyabo Dupe Adekeye     Awwal Jawondo     Yahaya Dumoye     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Offa     Alagbado     Oye Tinuoye     Abubakar Lah     Asa     Siraj Oyewale     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Hassan Abdulazeez Elewu     Doyin Awoyale     Overland     Tunji Ajanaku     Olabode Towoju     Just Law Forum     Umar Yakubu Jaja     2017 Budget     Salaudeen Oyewale     TETFUND     Federal Allocation     Modupe Oluwole     Adewuyi Funmilayo     Ayinde Oki     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Bolaji Aladie     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Ghali Muhammed     Dan Iya     Curfew     General Hospital     Government Girls’ Day Secondary School Pakata     Abubakar B.M     Owode Market     Madawaki Of Ilorin     Ahmed \'Lateef     Bibire Ajape     Grillo     Buhari     Sherif Sagaya     Magaji Nda     Durosinlohun Atiku     Saidu Isa     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Saeedat Aliyu     Kale Ayo     Saad Omo\'ya     Bashirat Bola Bello     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Raymond Olaitan     Okin Group     Yunus Lawal     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Isiaka Alikinla     Kwara South     Alabi Lawal     Ayobami Seriki     Oni Adebayo    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

ITEM 7     Chief Of Staff     Pilgrims Board     Ubandawaki     Sola Saraki University     Kola Bukoye     Unilorin     Elections     Hamidu Olowo     Jamiu Oyawoye     Lai Mohammed     Amos Sayo     David Oyepinola Adedumoye     Olaitan Adefila     NYSC     Binta Abubakar-Mora     Bello Oyedepo     Mukhtar Shagaya     Saheed Akinwumi     Monsurat Omotosho     Abdulsalam A. Yusuf     Ile Arugbo     Charles Ibitoye     Offa     Oja-Oba     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Maigida Soludero Transit     Ibrahim Mashood     First Lady     Bluenile Associates     Admiralty Villa     Bamidele Adegoke     Kunbi Titiloye     AbdulRazaq Jiddah     Maryam Ado Bayero     Micheal Imoudu     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     KWASAA     Olabanji Orilonishe     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     GRA     Valsolar     Afonja     Mahfouz Adedimeji     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     JMK Construction Company Limited     UNIFEMGA     Sa\'adu Salahu     Ayo Opadokun     Peter Obi     Otunba Taiwo Joseph     Moro     March 28     Kaosarah Adeyi     Asa     Bola Sagaya     Amusement Park     Abdulrasheed Na\'Allah     Ajike People Support Centre     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Saliu Tunde Bello     Atiku Abubakar     Nigeria Customs Service     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     KWTV     Shonga Farm Project     Olohungbebe     Basic Education Certificate Examination     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Tsado Manman     FERMA     Tunde Oyawoye     Aisha Ahman Pategi     Kamaldeen Gambari