NAN-H-28
Auditors
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, Oct 22,2017(NAN) A South African independent consultancy firm, EOH Coastal and Environmental Services (CES) has rated Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) high for diligent application of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) standards in its operations.
A statement issued by AEDC’s Head of Public Relations and Media, Mr Ahmed Shekarau in Abuja on Sunday, said the audit conducted between Oct. 16 and Oct. 29 was done on behalf of CEC Africa and the Dutch Development Bank.
Shekarau said that the audit focused on AEDC’s programmes and projects to manage and address the HSE risks that it could be exposed to in the conduct of its businesses.
According to him, the auditors after the conclusion of an audit of the company’s operations also commended the AEDC for its prudent financial management.
Shekarau revealed that the audit team, comprising two experts, Dr Kevin Whittington-Jones and Mr Tony Barbour, visited AEDC to verify and report on core HSE related issues and progress in the implementation of previously agreed HSE actions.
He said the audit was to ascertain level of implementation of a sound HSE management system in the company and its compliance with applicable legislation and the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) performance standards.
He explained said that the audit was also to find out AEDC’s compliance on associated sector-specific guidelines and relevant International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
The AEDC PRO said the audit was also to verify the general level of attractiveness of AEDC to external lending institutions with reference to HSE performance.
Shekarau said the team visited several locations across the FCT, including two newly installed cradle guards, seven distribution substations and eight injection substations.
He said the site visitations were essentially to assess the operational standards and protocols being observed at the facilities.
Shekarau further disclosed that the team also visited Gishiri Village in Abuja to inspect the Network Sanitisation Project initiated by AEDC, a pilot scheme of the company’s programme for cleaning up poorly wired communities.
He said that the sensitization scheme was to create accident-free electricity service atmosphere in its coverage area, of FCT, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger states.
According to him, the auditors reported that AEDC management has demonstrated full and verifiable commitment by providing the right personnel, systems and a commendable framework for the allocation of material and financial resources for the management of HSE and enterprise risks.
Shekarau explained that the team also noted that with AEDC’s satisfactory HSE performance, the company would be considered compliant with all relevant HSE due diligence requirements of external lending institutions.
This, they said would make AEDC attractive to such lending institutions. (NAN)
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Edited by Ese E. Ekama