Social context of energy theft among electricity consumers in Lagos and Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria
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Social context of energy theft among electricity consumers in Lagos and Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria Usman A. Ojedokun1 · Chinedu E. Dinne1 · Maryam T. Buhari1
© Springer Nature Limited 2020
Abstract Energy theft is among the dominant problems confronting the Nigerian electricity sector. Therefore, this study examined the factors underlying the perpetration of this illegal act among electricity consumers in Lagos and Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Rational choice perspective and situational crime prevention perspective were employed as theoretical guide. Data were generated using in-depth interview and key-informant interview methods. Snowball sampling was utilised for the selection of 59 electricity consumers engaging in energy theft, while nine officials of two electricity distribution companies were purposively chosen. Findings indicated that electricity tapping was the most common form of energy theft. Most of the electricity consumers engaging in energy theft considered it a rational response to the ineptitude and inefficiency of electricity distribution companies. Keywords Energy theft · Electricity consumers · Nigerian electricity sector · Nigeria
Introduction Electricity sector is among the least performing utility service delivery institutions in Nigeria (Edomah et al. 2017; Federal Government of Nigeria 2015). The recognition of the intensity of the challenges confronting this sector compelled the Federal Government of Nigeria to initiate its privatisation under the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act in 2005, with the formal transfer of its ownership in November, 2013 (Isa and Peterside 2014). However, in spite of its privatisation, the performance * Usman A. Ojedokun [email protected] Chinedu E. Dinne [email protected] Maryam T. Buhari [email protected] 1
Department of Sociology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Vol.:(0123456789)
U. A. Ojedokun et al.
of this sector has remained largely dismal. Indeed, the 2018 World Economic Forum Report indicated that Nigeria is among the countries experiencing poor electricity supply globally (Okoromadu 2018). Energy theft by electricity consumers is among the dominant challenges confronting the Nigerian electricity sector (Okoromadu 2018; Hachimenum et al. 2016; Vanguard 2015). Although Section 96(1) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (2005) of the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission expressly proscribed energy theft and attached sanctions to it, this illegal act is still being commonly practised in Nigeria (Adedapo 2016; Uzedhe and Ofuagbala 2015). In March 2015, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing disclosed that close to 60% of energy annually supplied in Nigeria are illegally consumed by electricity consumers engaging in electricity theft (Vanguard 2015). Energy theft among electricity consumers in Nigeria becomes problematic because it holds serious negative socio-economic implications for the country. Indeed, the power baseline report released by the Federal Government of Niger
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