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Tag: Benin Electricity Distribution Company

  • Angry youths barricade Delta Govt House over blackout

    Angry youths barricade Delta Govt House over blackout

    Angry youths from the Okpanam community in the Oshimili North Local Government Area on Wednesday barricaded the entrance to the Delta State Government House in Asaba on Wednesday, protesting prolonged power outages and alleged exploitation by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

    The demonstrators carried placards with messages such as “BEDC, Stop Ridiculing Us—We Pay Bills, Give Us Light!”, “We Say No to BEDC Supply Plan to Okpanam!”, “Stop the Exploitation!” and “We Are in Capital Territory but Live as Slaves, Please Help Us!”

    President General of the Okpanam Youth Organization, Mr. Lucky Okolo, linked the worsening state of insecurity and rising crime in the community to the persistent lack of electricity.

    He accused BEDC of deliberately withholding power, slamming residents with inflated estimated bills, and neglecting to upgrade or invest in the community’s electricity infrastructure.

    The protesters issued a list of demands, including a full investigation into BEDC’s operations in Okpanam, restoration of steady power supply within seven days, transparent billing systems, mass deployment of prepaid meters, the creation of a joint oversight task force, and the installation of adequate transformers.

    Addressing the protesters, Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor, Mr. Johnson Erijo, commended the peaceful nature of the protest and assured the group that their grievances had been noted and were being taken seriously by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration.

    He said, “We appreciate you coming forward peacefully to raise these concerns. From your placards and your letter, it’s clear that you are not just angry—you are informed, organized, and determined. And this government shares in your pain.”

    Read Also: Delta Govt redeems pledge ofN2.5m to family of dead teacher

    He admitted that the blackout had created serious security risks, including increased criminal activity, and confirmed that the lack of street lighting was contributing to a surge in kidnapping and violence across Okpanam.

    He also praised the community for offering to partner with the government in tackling insecurity.

    Erijo said the state is on the verge of finalizing a legislative framework to enable energy sector reform, taking advantage of the recent liberalization of the power sector under President Bola Tinubu.

    He added that once implemented, the new framework would attract independent investors and end the monopoly of inefficient distribution companies.

    “Even here in Government House, we face the same issues—you’re not alone. But your Governor is proactive. We’re almost at the final stage of enabling a framework that will allow for sustainable and accountable energy solutions across the state.”

  • Omozogie-Uteh community connected to national grid

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has connected Omozogie quarters in Uteh community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area to the national grid.

    It is the first time the residents are getting electricity after many years of waiting. They, therefore, set up an Electricity Committee to watch against energy theft.

    At a town hall meeting before the inauguration of a sub-station, BEDC’s Head of Community Relations, Mrs. Virginia Osineme, urged the people to see the substation as a collective responsibility that should be protected against vandalism and other forms of energy theft.

    Mrs. Osineme educated residents on basic safety tips on proper earthing of their premises, importance of engaging licensed electricians to wire their houses, and the need to avoid substandard electrical accessories.

    She said: “The protection of the substation is everybody’s business. If there is no light, you know who to meet and talk to. If you see anybody in the substation that is not authorised by BEDC and the electricity committee, he or she is a vandal and should be arrested.”

    The Ikpoba Hill Business Manager, Mrs. Ekaete Ntukidem, praised the residents for their patience during the process of connecting them to the national grid.

    “Meters have been properly installed and functional to provide you with fair and transparent billing. Please, ensure no new wire is connected illegally to the network. We will know because of the check meter attached to the transformer, vend as at when due and don’t allow electricians to tamper with the transformer.”

    Spokesman for the community Mr. Iyoha Omozogie said the sub-station would boost business in the community.

    “We thank the management and staff of BEDC for their direction in ensuring that our community is connected to the national grid. We also thank members of the community for their selfless donations and doggedness in ensuring the yearning of the people becomes a reality. We now have light in Omozogie.

    “The community has set up an electricity committee which will work with BEDC in ensuring meters were not bypassed to mitigate energy losses, ensure quick response to faults and protection of the substation.”

  • Benin residents hail Fed Govt, BEDC for improved power supply

    Residents of Benin and its environs have commended the Federal Government and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for the improvement in power supply to the areas.

    Some of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin, in separate interviews on Wednesday, said the commendation was against the background of their experience within the last quarter of 2018.

    The people said that with the improvement in power supply, they had been enjoying electricity from a near zero hours daily to at least, 12 hours daily supply.

    They further stressed that the improvement in electricity supply had remarkably led to the improvement in their means of livelihood as well as their lifestyle.

    Mr Osaigwe Aghedo, a resident around Abuja quarter area of the Government Reserve Area (GRA), Benin said that the electricity supply to her area was constant at 12 hours daily.

    “It is usually brought for every 3 hours, I mean 3 hours on and 3 hours off, which add up to 12 hours daily and it has been ongoing since January,” he said.

    Aghedo said this was not the case between October and November 2018, when residents practically stayed in the dark for weeks.

    Another resident, Miss Jemima Osaikhuiwuomwan, who lives around Iduoriyekemwen area of the town, said that some areas around Isior had also been enjoying power supply daily.

    “I don’t know where the electricity supply came from, but it has improved recently to the extent that sometimes I have to switch off some of my electrical gadgets,” she said.

    The story is the same with John Omoruyi and Festus Napoleon who both reside at Irhirhi area, off Airport road, Benin.

    They said that the area usually have power up to 12 hours daily supply.

    The duo, however, bemoaned the issue of estimated billing which they described as “extortion.”

    Similarly, Osato Udiase who resides at Utese, Ovia North East Local Government Area, said that the communities around his area benefitted from supply between 12 to 20 hours daily “unlike before.’’

    While commending BEDC for the improved electricity supply, he also lamented over the excessive billing system.

    NAN reports that the state in general and residents of Benin in particular had experienced poor power supply for the better part of the last quarter of 2018.

    The development was caused by a faulty power transformer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

    The issue got to a climax that Gov. Godwin Obaseki and other prominent citizens, including the Civil Society Organisations, called for the revocation licence of the BEDC.

  • BEDC holds safety campaigns in Edo

    Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has held safety campaigns in some primary and secondary schools in Edo State.

    It also donated over 20,000 exercise books to some pupils.

    The sensitisation was part of  the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    At Eyean Secondary School in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, BEDC’s Health, Environment and Safety Manager, Mr. Gilbert Nweke, spoke on the dangers of tampering with electrical installations, living and trading under high tension overhead lines, overcrowded electrical sockets, stepping/touching lines (electrical wires) and playing near distribution substations, among others.

    The Principal, Eyean Secondary School, Mr. P. K. Idemudia, who was elated at the exercise, expressed appreciation to BEDC for the visit, saying: “This is a good innovation by BEDC, it is the first time we are witnessing this campaign from any electricity service provider in the country.”

    He advised other electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to take a cue from BEDC to reach out to children who formed major part of the vulnerable segment of their customer population and are prone to electrical accident.

    The team Lead of CSR Project, Mrs. Felicia Nlemoha, said: “The campaign will promote safety in the use of electricity at home, schools, road, and workplace and reduce the rate of electricity accidents and hazards, will  become safety ambassadors in their various homes.’’

    She further stated that as part of giving back to the society, selected schools would get educational materials from BEDC.

    “In addition to the safety campaign, BEDC will also commence the formation of energy clubs called ‘Joules’ in secondary schools. The growth of Joules club will metamorphose into a debate competition, among member- schools. The winners of the competition will in turn become brand ambassadors of BEDC.

    “The objectives of the Joules clubs are to groom secondary students to take up careers in the electricity industry and to boost the current drive by BEDC and other DisCos to tackle manpower gap in the power sector,” she added.

    According to Mrs. Nlemoha, it will also encourage students to embrace the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) initiative in their career path, especially the females and also bridge the knowledge gap in the power industry by educating students on the entire electricity value chain.

    BEDC also visited some primary and secondary schools in Edo State, including those in Ogbe, Oliha, Iyase Ugbekun, Ologbosere, Isohan, Ogenerie primary schools and Imaguero Secondary School.

  • Obaseki gives BEDC 7-day ultimatum to restore power to consumers

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has asked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to restore power supply to consumers in the state or risk shutdown of its offices in the state.

    The governor gave the ultimatum as he concluded the ward-to-ward campaign in Egor Local Government Area, where he urged voters in the area to support candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.

    At Ward 9, the governor said N500 million has been set aside in the 2019 budget to construct an entertainment park and waterworks, urging residents in the ward to support APC candidates to represent them at the state and federal levels.

    He said: “We have awarded the contracts for the repair of the failed portions of Okhoro Road and the contractor who went on holiday has resumed work with the promise to start work next week.”

    The governor decried how the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has continued to frustrate his efforts to ensure the people of the state get stable electricity to power their businesses, noting, “BEDC has continued to put us in darkness in the state and we will give them seven days to restore electricity or else we will shut their office down in the state.”

    He described Ward 10 as a special ward that has several federal and state institutions, and said that his administration has completed the design of Technical College Road and the contract awarded.

    “I have also asked the contractor to rehabilitate Adolor College Road and in two weeks’ time, contractors will commence work,” he assured.

    The governor noted that the rehabilitation work on Adolor College Road has become important because over N300 million has been spent so far in revamping the Government Science Technical College (GSTC) which will be reopened for academic activities in September 2019 with 1,500 students.

    “Due to the work we are doing at the College, the Minister of Power has promised to give us a direct line from Ihovbor Power Plant to help light up the state. Officials of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are already in the state preparing the ground to bring power and to enable the people enjoy 24/7 electricity,” he added.

    At Ward 6, he assured the electorates that the contractor handling the Textile Mill Road project is set to return to site.

    “In the next few weeks, work will commence on the road; the contractor will come to site. I am here to tell you that this year’s election will be different. We want to do it unit-by-unit because votes are cast at the unit level.

    At Ward 8, Obaseki urged the youths to take advantage of their proximity to the GSTC, enrol for programmes in the school and learn technical skills, which will equip them to become self-reliant.

  • Electricity supply: Edo condemns failure of BEDC

    …as firm throws state into darkness for weeks

    Following the failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide electricity to residents of Edo State, the state government has described as “regrettable BEDC’s insensitivity to the suffering and extreme inconveniences it has caused millions of its customers across the state.”

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, who conveyed the state government’s position on the glaring ineptitude of BEDC in the state, said: “The state government is miffed at BEDC’s failure to deliver electricity to Edo people and for throwing the entire state into darkness.”

    Osagie lamented “BEDC’s unprofessional attitude of sitting on their hands to watch their subscribers, most of whom have paid their bills in full, suffer the socio-economic consequences of their incompetence. 

    “Their action is most regrettable as they have not considered their customers deserving of any apology for the extreme inconveniences, they have caused Edo people and residents.”

    Read Also: Police in Edo arrest eight suspects over alleged illicit sale of Naira

    He explained that the state government is disturbed by the poor crisis management strategy of the power distribution company and assured that the days and months of darkness inflicted on Edo people are nearing their end.

    “The government, however, urges Edo people to be patient as it has taken the initiative to take its destiny in its hands by obtaining a licence for another private power company, Ossiomo Power for the generation and distribution of power, independent of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC),” Osagie said.

    The governor’s aide maintained that officials of the  state government have been bombarded with torrents of complaints from residents, in every nuke and cranny of the state, about BEDC’s ineffectiveness.

  • BEDC to Obaseki: We have improved power supply

    Management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has replied to the vituperation it drawn from Governor Godwin Obaseki over poor power supply.

    Governor Obaseki had on Thursday said lambasted the BEDC for frustrating a power deal he entered with Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company Limited to supply electricity to government offices in the state capital.

    Obaseki accused the BEDC of poor supply of electricity to the state, the resolve not to supply pre-paid meters to electricity consumers and its culture of over-billing its clients.

    But the BEDC in a statement issued yesterday evening replied the Governor that power supply has improved in Edo State since it took over as one of the distribution Company from  the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

    In the statement signed by its spokesman, Tayo Adekunle, it said Edo got the highest share of 40% out of the allocation of 9% it got from the grid.

    It said it has added a total of 1694 transformers to ensure power supply improvement since the new management took over in 2013.

    Read Also: Manufacturers laud Obaseki’s reform initiatives

    The BEDC stated that power supply increased from two hours in 2013 to six-10 hours for locations with severe infrastructure limitations and eight hours to 12- 15 hours for locations with more improved infrastructure.

    It said power supply increased from 18 -24 hours for commercial and government customers on the nine newly constructed double circuit 11kv feeders with over 27 km route lengths of dedicated lines.

    The statement said the BEDC has connected 12 communities to the grid who were without power supply before the takeover in 2013.

    On metering and estimated billing, the BEDC said it has achieved over 65 per cent metering of customers and committed to closing the gap in its coverage areas.

    It said it was committed to ensuring credible billing for power consumed and explained that the adoption of estimated billing was a middle way solution to tackle the metering gap challenge facing the entire electricity distribution industry.

    According to the statement, “Nigeria has had inadequate metering for over 50 years, hence it is not possible for all customers to be metered within a short time period.

    “The introduction of Meter Asset Providers (MAP) by NERC is expected to fully address the metering issue not only for BEDC but for all distribution companies (Discos) in the country.

    “To the extent permitted by applicable legal and regulatory framework, BEDC has been and continues to be willing to work with all such 3rd parties including Ossiomo Power and Infrastructure Company to increase power supply within the ambit of the law, without compromising the quality of power supply, affordability and more importantly safety and security of our customers.”

  • BEDC takes Ekiti people for granted, says ex-bank chief

    A former Managing Director of the defunct First Interstate Bank, Chief Samuel Bandele Falegan, has accused the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) of taking the people of Ekiti State for granted.

    Falegan, in a letter to the company, said: “I know that my name, writing a letter to you will send jitters and uneasiness among those of you with whom I have been having problem in BEDC upto your Managing Director, Mrs Osibodu.

    “The last two months have been another example of man’s inhumanity to man as will be shown below:

    “The disconnection of light to the entire Ile-Abiye community comprising three (3) major institutions, Ile-Abiye Hospital, College of Health  Science and Technology and Anglican High school.

    “For the reason best known to you when your attention was drawn to the disconnection of light to the community by Mr. Osekita of Ile Abiye Hospital, not only did you fail to turn up for two days, he had to report  to your office to remind you of your promise.

    “Your officers finally came the third day only to find a giant generator belonging to the high school working and connected to your grid.

    “Not only did they disconnect the generator a meeting of representatives of the three communities were summoned to meet your officers in your office where I learnt the following proposals were made to them

    (a) Each has to have to buy a recline from your company.

    (b) You may have to take the three communities to court for illegal use of your line.

    (c) The representatives of the three communities have to come to your office for negotiation.

    “At the time of writing this letter to you, the only thing that has come out is the reconnection of the giant generator owned by the High School.

    “It is not only amusing but puzzling that the very institution that made such illegal connection to your line is having the same generator reconnected for the same illegal operation. Why? I just heard on authority that the children of your staff are attending that High school hence the favour which is part of Nigeria’s problem today- corruption, impunity, and insecurity all of them lumped together with your company having its fair share. I know you will deny it.

    “Can I remind you once more that Agric Olope station would not have come to operation today but for me. Can you swear an oath that those sixty four transformers have been installed in Ekiti again. Where are the sixty four transformers I saw and counted when that station was being re-vitalised?

    “The assurance was given that with those transformers, no part of Ekiti will be in darkness again.

    Can you swear an oath that the bulk of those transformers have not been transferred out of Ekiti?

    “Otherwise, why are there cries all over the state about lack of electricity?

    I gave you one illustration, Adere community very close to me here has one of the transformers installed but not connected to your grid since more than one year ago because your company wants the community to pay for the connection contrary to Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission which says no community should be forced to pay any money for repair/reconnection.

    “Another illustration is Bawa/Ajowa area where there is a transformer where two of your officers are living. The complaint is rampart in the area that it is only your staff enjoy light each time there is light at week-ends. Yet each time the community leads any complaint or protest to the station, they are rebutted on abuse of office, corruption and impunity.

  • Edo communities protest epileptic power supply

    Edo communities protest epileptic power supply

    Business activities at the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) were on Thursday paralyzed as three communities protested epileptic power supply.

    Workers of BEDC were denied access into the building premises as the protesters blocked the two entrance gates.

    The protesters who were from Ogbenogbo, Ogbegbuya and Goodwill/Trade Fair communities in Oredo local government area of the state slaughtered two goats with which they prepared yam porridge and jollof rice in front of BEDC office.

    Two large pots were used for the cooking, while the protesters danced round the BEDC office.

    Spokesman for the community, Aduku Monday, said they were annoyed because they have not enjoyed electricity supply since the BEDC took over from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    He said, “We have not enjoyed power supply ever since BEDC took over from PHCN. The best we have is very epileptic. All forms of business activities in the two communities that depend on electricity have all been paralysed.

    “Formally, we were supplied electricity from the feeder pillar in the GRA‎. But when BEDC took over, they transferred us to Evbuotubu, because, as we heard, an Indian company gave them money to retain the transformers. Secondly, Evbotubu is already overloaded‎,” he said.

    The Nation gathered that there are 2,688 houses in the three communities.

    A resident – Curtis Obaghiagbon – said he has been using generator since he returned from Austria last month.

    “Ever since I arrived, I’ve been buying petrol to run my generator every day. If I can afford it, not everybody can afford it. This is not sustainable. It has to stop,” Mr. Obaghiagbon said.

    “We will come here tomorrow, all of us in black dresses to complete the burial ceremony of BEDC and Osibodu.”

    The General Manager, Public Affairs Division in BEDC, Curtis Nwadei, said the communities are indebted to the company to the tune of N28, 140, 962.26k.

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