03 June 2016, Benin – Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state has given the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) 24 hours’ ultimatum to restore power to disconnected communities in the state otherwise he would revoke their Certificate of Occupancy
Power transmission station
Oshiomhole who handed down the ultimatum when the management of Benin Disco, led by its Managing Director, Mrs Funke Osibodu, paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Benin City, described that action of the company as not only criminal, but also an act of economic sabotage because of the numerous persons and businesses the disconnection had impacted negatively.
Explaining the rationale for the disconnection, the Benin Disco boss said their actions were because of the refusal of the affected areas to pay their electricity bill, coupled with the incessant harassment, intimidation and beating of the company’s staffers as well as destruction of its electricity installations and vehicles belonging to the firm.
Besides, Osibodu, who was represented by the Chief State Officer (Edo), Mr Richard Obshai, said the current load shedding embarked upon by the company was as a result of the allotted megawatts to the company for distribution from the national grid that has gone down by 40 percent due to vandalism of gas pipelines which has affected generation.
