BEDC’s failure to provide Asaba light ignites protest

Massive protest unsettled some parts of Asaba, Delta state on Monday following the alleged failure by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide light.

The protesters, many of whom were from Behind Nitel, Nnebisi road Awai road, took to various streets in shouting, and later moved to the office of the BEDC along Awai road where they were addressed by the Public Affairs Manager, Mrs. Esther Okolie who assured that the management of BEDC was looking into their grouses.

She however expressed regret that Asaba consumers were owing over N2.5 billion as unpaid bills from January to April, adding “Many residents of Asaba are not paying their bills, how do expect BEDC to Provide light? ”

But the leader of the protesting group, Engr. Division Agor alleged failure of BEDC to provide light to the demand of N4 million to purchase two transformers for the areas, adding “we told them we don’t have such money hence BEDC left us to be suffering in the last six months”

Apart from alleged N2.6 billion unpaid bills, BEDC had also raised the alarm of frequent vandalization of transformers in Asaba, kwale, Agbor and Ibusa, saying that BEDC had in the Past three weeks lost 450 transformers to yet unidentified vandals.

Speaking to our reporter the public affairs Manager in Asaba, Mrs. Esther Okolie said “we have been facing frequent vandalization of transformers in Asaba. Other residents are not paying their bills, yet they are protesting, on what ground? ”

She called on security agents to bring to book vandals that have been vandalizing BEDC transformers.