Friom Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
Electricity consumers in Ogwashi Uku community in Delta State, have protested six years of darkness without power supply..
The protesters had accused the power providers, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC) of negligence in its responsibilities to them in the past six years, even at the regular payments of its outrageous bills, alleging that officials of the company would rather demand for bribe to do their bid whenever their are Complaints before them.
Leader of the protesters, Benard Osakwe who spoke to our correspondent in the area said,”We have not had light in the past six years, and the errors were blamed on broken down transformers when we moved into BEDC office in Ogwashi Uku to complain, instead of helping us out as Consumers, officials of the Company said they will do something about it, apartment from the fact that we have no light in the past six years, the officials keep sending us outrageous bills, and we will pay, business activities have been paralyzed, and we can’t do anything”
Though, the protest was peaceful, it was gathered that security agents allegedly dispersed the protesters with tear gas and ensured they did not display placards with various inscriptions” BEDC give us light, for six years now, no light, stop outrageous bills, We are tied of darkness, Buhari should do away with BEDC for the comfort of Nigerians, Ogwashi Uku kingdom needs 48hours light for businesses to thrive”
But Human Resources Manager, BEDC Edo/ Delta State, Mrs Esther Okolie who spoke to Journalists in the area, dispelled the broken down transformers as untrue, saying that the transformers were allegedly vandalised by up until now unidentified thieves, and however assured the Protesters steps with a view to ensuring replacement of the transformers soon.
She said that vandals in their frequent vandalisation of BEDC transformers, would soon be brought to book as efforts were being put in place for monitoring security agents in various communities in the state.
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