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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The residents of Ughiole and Ubiane communities in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, have petitioned the National Assembly over Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) Plc for failing to supply them light for over nine months.
The petition signed by Adamu Deco Suleman and sent to the Chairman,
House Committee on Public Petitions, national assembly, Hon. Esosa Iyawe, titled “Public petition against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for failing to resolve the prolonged power outage in Ughiole and Ubiane communities, Etsako West Local Government, Edo State, said the communities are being punished for fault that is not theirs.
Mr Suleman said that the root cause of their prolonged blackout stems from the vandalism of the step-down infrastructure that powers over five transformers, perpetrated by unknown individuals nine months ago.
Suleman said the ensuing explosion, caused by the siphoning of oil from the stepdown, worsen the plight of the residents.
He said when the incident happened, promptly, the community leaders alerted the staff and management of the BEDC in the Auchi Business District.
He added that, regrettably, the response from BEDC has been characterized by indifference and neglect.
He said that ever since the incident, no stakeholder meetings have been convened, and both communities have been left to endure the hardships of living without electricity, with neither BEDC management nor government intervention forthcoming.
Stating their roles in trying to help out, the affected communities established a fundraising committee to gather funds for the repair or replacement of the damaged infrastructure but the funds raised thus far fall short of the substantial amount required due to inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.
He added that the estimated cost to procure a new step-down exceeds N8 million.
He said that based on the hardship they have been thrown into, the House Committee on Public Petition should help, conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and compel BEDC to promptly provide a replacement stepdown to restore power to over twenty thousand residents and numerous businesses in the area.
He also urged the committee to understand the urgency of the situation and dispatch a delegation to witness the conditions firsthand and compel relevant government agencies to expedite the resolution of this power outage.
He urged the committee to ensure that, following the restoration of power, BEDC should compensate the affected residents for the dereliction of duty and the hardships endured because the inhabitants of the communities have fled to neighbouring areas, thereby worsening the level of insecurity, and decimating the local economy, which heavily relies on electricity.
