…Give BEDC one week to restore light

“Enough is enough,give us light”, “BEDC our mumu don do”, ” BEDC power our transformer,” ” BEDC what is our offence ,we want light”. The following were the inscriptions on the placards of Landlords/Landladies who staged a peaceful protest at the Agbor Business office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
The Landlords/ Landladies who operate under the umbrella group, Unity Community during the protest demanded immediate reconnection and energizing of their transformer.

The Community comprises three different Landlord Associations: Idumudon Landlord Association, Onyebikumaoyen Landlord Association and Okiroro Landlord Association (Imudia Estate). The aggrieved Landlords/Landladies stated that
their area have been in total darkness since November, 2019 after BEDC illegally disconnected their transformer.

A protest letter signed by the Chairman, Light Committee, Unity Community, Pastor Paul Ogboi and Secretary, Mr Ewere Okonta, was handed over to the Manager,BEDC, Agbor Business District,Engr Amos Bamgboye through the District Head of Commercial Operations, Mr Steve Izerizuwa.

The letter reads, “APPEAL FOR IMMEDIATE RECONNECTION AND ENERGIZING OF OUR TRANSFORMER
The above subject refers:
One. That we, members of the above named community wish to put the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on notice of our intention to embark on a peaceful protest in their Agbor Business District on 12th of January, 2021 over BEDC failure to reconnect and energize our transformer.

Two. That the said transformer was self-financed by the members of that community without any external help either from the government or from the BEDC both during the time of purchasing and installations.
Three. That the community was informed by their contractor (Von & Sons Nigeria Enterprises) of the completion of the said project for over three months ago and that he has submitted all the relevant documents to the appropriate authorities and this includes a letter from the community donating the said transformer to BEDC.

Four. That the community has made further investment of over Fifteen Million Naira (#15,000,000) in the purchases of electricity poles, conductors and other accessories
Five. That the community was disconnected from electricity supply by BEDC in November, 2019
Six. That sadly, BEDC was still bringing bills to the registered members of the community even when they are the ones that disconnected them from electricity supply.

Seven. That the community is appealing to BEDC to immediately reconnect and energize our transformer without further delay.
Eight. That we have paid our dues and we can no longer afford to remain in man-made darkness.

Responding, the Head, Commercial Operations, BEDC, Agbor Business District, Mr Steve Izerizuwa said that his company is aware of the electricity challenge affecting Unity Community and that efforts are already on to address the challenge. He thanked the protesting Landlords/ Landladies for their orderliness and maturity.

On the one week ultimatum given by the Unity Community to BEDC, Mr. Izerizuwa said that he will take their complaints to the appropriate authority as he has no power to state exactly when their transformer will be energized.

Unity Community Landlords/Landladies during the protest to BEDC Office in Agbor

Mr. Ewere Okonta reading out the petition to BEDC Officials