By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA — AS power supply in the country continues to worsen, electricity consumers in Delta State under the auspices of Electricity Consumers Forum, last week gave the Federal Government a 7-day ultimatum to restore power supply in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

This was contained in a letter signed by the Udu Chapter of the forum to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

Chairman of the Forum, Mr. Aru Mumakai-Unagha, told journalists in Abuja that the entire local government area with a population of over 500,000 people, with 350,000 electricity consumers have been thrown into darkness for the past three years. He added that the people have also suffered lossesin excess of N500 million due to dwindling business activities.

The letter reads in part: “We, the undersigned Udu Electricity Consumers Forum on behalf of the electricity consumers in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State of Nigeria wishes to present our protest letter to you as the Minister of Power, Works and Housing. “Sir, it is pertinent to draw your attention to the ugly development electricity consumers in the area have been passing through since the privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

“Sir for the past three years, Udu Local Government Area has not witnessed steady power supply. This, the people have been enduring with hope that the situation would improve. We made several representations to the management of the company (BEDC) for which they said they have no solution.

“Take notice that in the event of your failure to address this petition we shall seek redress in the appropriate quarters. Therefore, you are given seven (7) days ultimatum to restore light to the entire Udu Local Government Area.”

As part of their demand the electricity consumers also called for the immediate sack of the Managing Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu.

They alleged that she vowed Udu LGA will remain in darkness, due to the peaceful protest embarked upon by some aggrieved women over the hardship they had continued to face as their business no longer flourish.

The letter also alleged that BEDC has continued to place electricity consumers in the area on estimated billing ranging from N10, 000 and above without having access to adequate power supply, and has failed to provide pre-paid meters to consumers who already paid for them.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the reaction BEDC proved abortive as the Customer Care Department of the company failed to provide her number or that of the Public Relations Officer despite several calls made.