Edo civil groups accuse BEDC of using soldiers to oppress customers

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Unrelenting protests against activities of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), surfaced again on Monday, as members of civil society groups, under the Edo Civil Society Organisations, staged a protest against what they described as intimidation of customers by the company.

Hundred is the aggrieved protesters, dressed in black, marched through the Museum ground on Kings Square at the city centre, before making their way to the headquarters of the electricity distribution company, located along Akpakpava Road.

The protesters also barricaded the major entrances to the firm, with the aim of preventing the staff from entering or leaving the company’s premises, which disrupted human and vehicular movement in the area.

They accused the BEDC of harassing electricity customers with the use of security operatives attached to expatriates working with the company.

President of the coalition, Omobude Agho, said that civil society groups would not allow a “capitalist organisation” doing business in the State “to continue to use white men and the military to oppress, intimate and harass citizens.”

He noted that the estimated billing system used by the company had become unbearable to customers.

“We are here to demand that meters must be given to citizens; the rate at which their estimated billing has sky-rocketed is rejected and unacceptable. The high-handedness of the BEDC and its management is a total disrespect to Nigerians and Edo people, in particular,” he said.

Agho who recalled the alleged harassment of an electricity customer, one Innocent Okpara, by security personnel attached to some foreigners working with the distribution company, also alleged that there were several other cases of assault on customers in Edo.

“But that one (Okpara) is a case study. We think that it should not be like that. If we fold our arms and close our eyes, someday, the white men will tell the Nigerian soldiers to begin to shoot at our citizens. So, we choose to nib it in the bud,” he added.

But reacting to the allegations, the management of BEDC, described the protest as unnecessary, adding that the issues of estimated billing and metering were matters not peculiar to the company.

The Head of Corporate Affairs of the company, Mr. Tayo Adekunle, said, “To us as BEDC, that protest was unnecessary, frivolous and sheer disturbance of public peace because the issues raised are in the public domain and not peculiar to BEDC alone but the entire power sector. But more importantly, they are being addressed.

“The man (Okpara) has paid. But he is yet to balance up and we are asking for a payment plan. That is the basis of their (CSOs) protest; they are insisting on reconnecting him when he is yet to balance up the amount he is owing. As a service provider, the energy is received from the national grid. So, the customers have to pay.”