Edo CSOs protest alleged oppression by BEDC

Members of the Edo Civil Society Organisations on Tuesday staged a protest over what they described as the alleged oppression and intimidation of electricity consumers by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

The civil activists, who adorned themselves in red, chanted solidarity songs and marched through the Ring road axis and Oba Ovoranmwwen square with placards to express their grievances.

They also made stopovers at the palace of the Oba of Benin and the House of Assembly complex.

Traffic was also disrupted for several hours as motorists and pedestrians struggled ‎to take alternative routes in order to get to their respective destinations.

‎The spokesman for the group, Mr. Osazee Edigin, accused the Benin disco of exploiting consumers with less power supply and a high tariff, which they claimed was not commensurate with the services provided.
Edigin said the company had refused to obey a court judgement not to increase tariff, adding that over 200 residents had been remanded in prison on allegations of tampering with electrical fittings belonging to the company.

He said, “Basically, what it (BEDC) is doing in recent times is to arraign people who may have tampered with its meters in the Federal High Court. What they (alleged offenders) get as bail condition is neck-breaking‎; over 200 Edo people are in prison, as I speak to you.

He also accused the BEDC of creating special lines for some corporate organisation and eminent personalities to the detriment of the residents.
On the allegation of meter bypass levelled against its members by the Benin disco, Edigin said, “We have been doing that (meter bypass) ‎because we felt it was our right to pay the tariff the court adjudged to be right.

“In this economic crunch, you will agree with me that a lot of persons are trying to cut cost. Putting people under pressure in paying huge amounts of tariff for darkness, we have to look for other means to ensure that we pay the tariff that the court adjudged to be right.”

But the company, in a swift reaction, described the protest as not only unnecessary but also a reprisal over the arrest and arraignment of one of its members for allegedly by-passing the meters.

The spokesperson for the company, Mr. Tayo Adekunle, told our correspondent on the telephone that ‎the special lines, as known as dedicated lines, were provided for companies and private individuals who had technical issues with power supply.

He also added that the special provision were given at the cost of such consumers, who were willing to pay for services rendered.

Adekunle explained, “That protest was needless and had no basis. On the issue of tariff, the case is still at the Court of Appeal. So, it has not been completely dealt with.

“The protest is like a reprisal attack on the BEDC because recently a few members of civil society organisations were arraigned in court for allegedly tampering with electrical fittings, a crime that is punishable.

“Some of them use it as a cover up for payment of electricity bills. One of them said that he has not paid electricity bill for the past three years. Is that a good example?‎”