SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING CUSTOMERS’ ILLEGAL

BYPASSING OF PREPAID METERING WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO IJEDE

COMMUNITY IN IKORODU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, LAGOS STATE.

BY

OKEREKE, EDITH NWAMAKA

MATRIC NO

131009090

A PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES,

FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, IN PARTIAL

FULFILMENT OF THE REQIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER’S DEGREE

IN PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (MPIA)

OCTOBER, 2023

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 CERTIFICATION

This is to certify that the project titled “Socio-Economic factors influencing customers’ illegal

bypassing of prepaid metering in Ijede Community in Ikorodu Local Governemnt Area, Lagos

State.by Okereke Edith Nwamaka with matriculation number 131009090 was written under my

supervision.

__________________________ ____________________
DR. ADISA WAZIRI DATE
supervisor

_________________________ ___________________
DR. OLUSEGUN ADEAGA DATE
Programme Coordinator

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 DEDICATION

This project is dedicated to the glory of the almighty God for He alone has seen me through to

this stage and made the research a success.

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I want to give all glory and thanks to God for his great mercy his guidance in my life all through

the process of my attaining this level of my academics and up till this stage of my life.

I also want to acknowledge in no small part, the dedication and immense support of my project

supervisor, Dr. Adisa Waziri. He was really a great help and guide towards the achievement of

this feat. I will also not forget the contributions of other lecturers of mine whose contributions

are unquantifiable in my academic pursuit.

Coming closer to the home, I want to appreciate the support of my Husband, children; Derrick,

Flourish, Jeffrey and family. My friends are also not forgotten, especially Mrs. Maryqueen

Obelle, Miss Abiola Gbadamosi, Miss Obitumelu Blossom and Mr. Uchenna J. Ogbuani for their

great support throughout this pursuit. Also, I wish to appreciate the efforts of the entire students

of the Department of Public and International Affairs and the staff of the School of Postgraduate

Studies, University of Lagos. I really appreciate all of you and I say may God bless you all.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Pages

Title Page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v

Abstract vii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 4
1.3 Objectives of the Study 5
1.4 Research Questions 6
1.5 Research Hypotheses 6
1.6 Significance of the Study 7
1.7 Scope of the Study 7
1.8 Definition of Terms 8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Introduction 10
2.2 Conceptual Framework 10
2.3 Theoretical Framework 25
2.4 Empirical Review of Relevant Literature 27

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 30
3.2 Research Design 30
3.3 Study Area 30

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3.4 Population of Study 31
3.5 Sampling Procedure and Sample Size 31
3.6 Validity and Reliability of Instrument 32
3.7 Method of Data Analysis 32

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Introduction 34
4.2 Data Presentation based on Contents of Research Instrument 34
4.3 Analysis of Data 40

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Summary 43
5.2 Conclusion 43
5.3 Recommendation 44

References 45
Appendix 53

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 ABSTRACT

This analysis evaluates Socio-Economic factors influencing customers’ illegal bypassing of

prepaid metering with special attention to Ijede Community in Ikorodu Local Government Area,
Lagos State. In some area meter bypassing is called electricity theft and from the study, it can be
seen that it is quite prevalent in a number of areas in Lagos State. A survey research design with
descriptive properties was used on the study in which questionnaire was used as the major
instrument for data collection. The collected data was analysed in the SPSS statistical software
and the output obtained was presented in percentage frequency distribution tables while the
decision making tests were done with the Chi-square test statistic. At the end of the study it was
concluded that there is significant relationship between level of education and illegal bypassing
of prepaid metering, that Socio-economic factors are responsible for the prevalence of illegal
bypassing of prepaid metering systems and that accommodation types have no significant
relationship with the prevalence of illegal bypassing of prepaid metering systems in Ijede
Community in Ikorodu Local Government Aream, Lagos State. It was recommended after the
study that policies that will punish those found in the act of bypassing meter connections should
be instituted and implemented as this will be effective in controlling the menace of electricity
theft. It was also recommended that adequate supply and availability of prepaid meters should
be made in the communities so that no one will have an excuse for not having a prepaid meter
installed in their homes, setting up of proper and effective monitoring and inspections teams for
electricity theft cases and that the service providers should ensure that there is a standby
customer service system to attend to customer complaints.

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