By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has expressed dissatisfaction with the low power supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, to Edo State, saying it posed a threat to security in the state.

Speaking at a meeting with the management of BEDC at Government House, Benin City, Governor Oshiomhole said: “I have a couple of concerns. Sometimes, we have seen some protests, some violent reactions and obstructions and stories about property being stolen and vandalized, and every day, I am confronted with protests from various communities who are in darkness, either their transformer is not working or it has broken down. There are bills people are paying even without electricity, or they are being over-billed based on estimates as they have no meters.

“Even the House of Assembly has just spoken to me that they need to spend some money to set up a sub-station that will provide more regular power supply to the Assembly. Right now, they are getting less than four hours a day in their residential area. That is an arm of government. They have made a request for a substantial investment for us to provide part of the cost in the distribution chain, and when we provide that and they have access to power, how do we get our fund?

“Recently, the Commissioner of Police wrote to me that the Police Headquarters was in darkness, and that it was a serious issue because at the Police Headquarters, we have cells where there are inmates. And of course, you have offices. Police is a 24- hour operation. Now, the transformer has broken down, and the police headquarters is without electricity.  They have informed Benin Disco, and after weeks and months, there is no solution. Now out of desperation, I have to buy, using tax payers’ money to provide a transformer for the Police Headquarters.

“I mentioned this because we used Edo people’s money to buy transformer, and you told me now that they have power. Now, what happens when you generate bills?”