BY: Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin
Some angry youths, Monday, took their protest to the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC on Akpakpava Road Benin- City over epileptic power supply that has bedeviled lately in their area.
The National Reformer Newspaper gathered that, the protest which temporarily brought traffic on Akpakpava Road to a halt was geared towards ensuring that power is the supply to all data and starter in the state without interruption.
Speaking, one of the protesters identified as Mr. Walter Agbonlahor described the situation as very disturbing and alarming; asserting that a change is imperative.
In his words, “we are here in respect of the distribution of electricity in our communities. We actually represent the interest of the people at stadium road, Akenzua, Ogbe, Airport Road and environs. There’s no light in this area mentioned. We have been having three, three hours light for some time now, and we are tired of it. We want total light in our communities”.
In a similar vein, another protester Mr. Momoh Derick, said since last year they have not had electricity supply while calling on authority of the BEDC to provide electricity to the consumers.
“Since last year we have been in darkness and had written to the authority of BEDC while they promised to restore the light but to no avail. We are still paying the N750 fixed charge without light. Why are we subjected to paying for what we did not consume? The tariff is increasing and this is seriously affecting our business”.
Reacting to the protest, the Assistant General Manager Co-operate Affairs, BEDC, Mr. Curtis Nwadei described the protest as uncalled for; adding that, the areas in question are provided electricity 12-hours whilst assuring that the authority would work harder to improve power supply to the affected areas.
Although, the protest was a peaceful one, however security men were on ground to make sure the protest remained peaceful.
