Protesting youths from Ososo, Ojah, Ijiranmi and other communities in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State have demanded urgent intervention over an eight-month blackout, saying the prolonged power outage has crippled businesses and stalled economic activity.
Key Highlights
- Residents of several Akoko-Edo communities protested an eight-month power outage.
- Protesters said the blackout had crippled businesses and commercial activity.
- Residents accused BEDC of failing to resolve persistent electricity problems.
- Some residents alleged they contributed money for repairs, but power supply remained unresolved.
- Protesters called for consideration of an alternative electricity distribution company.
- Edo authorities said efforts were underway to restore electricity, with restoration promised by Saturday.
The protesters made their grievances known on Thursday during a demonstration at the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Ministry of Power in Benin City.
Carrying placards, they decried the prolonged blackout and called on authorities to urgently restore electricity to their communities.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Bernard Gomina said the demonstration was organised to draw attention to the hardship caused by the outage.
“This protest is meant to bring our plight to the public as we have not enjoyed electricity for eight months. Businesses and commercial activities have been badly affected,” he said.
According to Gomina, the affected communities had been without electricity for about eight months despite interventions by community leaders and Donald Okogbe, the member representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency.
Residents Accuse BEDC Over Unresolved Power Problems
Another protester, who identified himself as Abayomi, alleged that residents had contributed substantial amounts of money to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) on several occasions to repair faulty equipment, but the interventions had not resolved the problem.
Abayomi also complained about what he described as high estimated electricity bills despite the unreliable power supply residents received before the prolonged outage.
He called for an alternative electricity distribution company if BEDC was unable to provide reliable service to the affected communities.
Lawmaker Demands Alternative Power Arrangement
Okogbe, who joined the protesters at the commission, said residents were frustrated by the prolonged outage. He said the affected communities span the two state constituencies in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area.
He added that Yekini Idaiye, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly and representative for Akoko-Edo I Constituency, could not join the protest because of other engagements.
The lawmaker said authorities should consider an alternative arrangement if BEDC could no longer provide reliable electricity. He appealed to the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission to explore removing the communities from BEDC’s coverage if necessary.
Okogbe said electricity was essential to economic growth and residents’ wellbeing, urging authorities to treat the prolonged blackout as an emergency.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission transferred regulatory oversight of Edo State’s intrastate electricity market to the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission in 2024.
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Edo Government Promises Power Restoration
The Chief Executive Officer of Edo SEBCO commended the protesters for demonstrating peacefully and said efforts were underway to address the electricity crisis.
He said the head of the technical team responsible for the area was already on site and assured the protesters that electricity supply would be restored by Saturday.
Chairman of the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dr. Shittu Shaibu, also assured the lawmaker and protesters that the commission was aware of the situation and was working towards a resolution.
Commissioner for Power Paul Osenbo addressed the protesters at his office and advised them to submit a formal memorandum detailing their complaints. He said the ministry was aware of electricity challenges affecting consumers across the state and would work to address them.
The assurances came as residents continued to demand a lasting solution to the blackout, which they said had severely affected businesses, commercial activity and the wider economic life of communities in Akoko-Edo.
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