The PowerHouse Group of the Behavioural Insights Network Transparency Accountability (BiNTA) Fellowship Programme has been applauded for their innovative and impactful project to minimize energy theft in Kabusa Community, Abuja.
The project, which focused on leveraging behavioural insights to address electricity theft, was recognized for its innovative approach and measurable impact on improving energy accountability in Kabusa.
While delivering the group’s project presentation, Paulinarh Ogunleye, one of the group members shared that “millions of Nigerians in urban-poor communities are trapped in a vicious cycle of energy injustice, fueled by rampant energy theft. These thefts, often driven by poverty, limited opportunities, and misguided social norms, not only cripple the power sector but also severely impact the lives of ordinary people.
“The burden of theft often falls disproportionately on marginalized communities, deepening existing social and economic inequalities. Additionally, tampered meters and illegal connections pose serious safety hazards, putting lives at risk in already disadvantaged communities.”
Ogunleye shared that the group’s intervention has helped to reduce energy theft in Kabusa, a community that was identified as the most prevalent in energy theft.
She also added that the intervention has helped to position Kabusa in the right energy band, with improved access to electricity in the community.
In her appreciation message, Blessing Oladunjoye, the PowerHouse Group Leader and Publisher of BONews Service, said the project implemented by the team benefited from different stakeholders namely the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Agency (NERC), and members of Kabusa community.
Oladunjoye shared that “through targeted messaging and stakeholders’ engagement, we were able to achieve “a shift in norms towards responsible energy consumption amongst community members and increased awareness of the consequences of energy theft, including safety risks, penalties and the impacts on power stability in the community.”
She also appreciated the PIC team for the recognition and the monetary award, stressing that “we were only doing our work diligently, we didn’t see this coming. We also appreciate our mentor, Catherine Angai, who has always been there to put us in the right direction.”
The group was presented with a dummy check of 450,000 Naira only.
While congratulating the PowerHouse Group, Femi Obidare, the PIC’s Program Officer, Governance and the BiNTA Fellowship coordinator, said the team members were efficient and timely with all their deliverables.
He also commended the level of effort put into the project implementation and the successes that have been recorded.
Earlier, Mr Akinwumi Akinola, the Behavioural Insights Lead at PIC announced the launch of the Behavioural Insights Network, a community of practice that would collaborate to fight corruption in Nigeria, and a Learning Management System (LMS), where interested persons can enrol for self-paced online learning on behavioural insights and fighting corruption in Nigeria.
Other members of PowerHouse Group are; Winner Mungana, Motunrayo Momodu, Muhammad Sani Kassim, Muhammad Mubarak Abdulkarim, Faithlyn Nwadishi, Adamu Auta, and Opeyemi Ibitoye.