Youths in Egor Local Government have taken to the street to protest the continuous blackout experienced in the area.
The youths complained that the power is only on for two minutes and out for more than 24 hours everyday.
The aggrieved youths started the protest yesterday but, NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that staff of Benin Electricity Distribution Company ran away from office.
The unrelenting and determined youth who gathered at a venue near Trade Centre, Uwelu Road, held down to BEDC at Akpakpava with different inscription on their placards.
It was gathered that some youths protested to the same office last week and they were assured of improvement but to no avail.
Business activities at the headquarters of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) were on Thursday paralyzed as three communities protested epileptic power supply.
Power electricity
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.
