BENIN CITY – The Edo State House of Assembly has directed the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to immediately restore electricity power to Igarra Community and its environs in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of the State.
The area has been without electricity supply for some time now.
The House also directed the management of BEDC to within 24 hours present a written apology to the house over hostile treatment given to the member representing Akoko-Edo II Constituency, Hon. Emmanuel Agbaje during his visit to the Headquarters of BEDC at Akpakpava Road in Benin City.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Victor Edoror gave the directives when the management of BEDC appeared before the state lawmakers at yesterdays plenary session on the invitation of the house, following a matter of urgent public importance brought by Hon. Agbaje (Akoko-Edo II Constituency).
Agbaje had alleged before the house that power supply to Igarra and its environs had been disconnected by BEDC, following the submission of members on the activities of BEDC in the state, the house urged the BEDC Management to liaise with the House Standing Committee on Energy and Water Resources and the members representing Akoko-Edo Constituencies to resolve the dispute with the people of Igarra on the smooth operations of electricity business with BEDC customers in the area.
Members expressed reservation with BEDC for disconnecting the area from the national grid following alleged refusal by residents to allow BEDC officials cart away a 2.5 MVA transformer from the community.
The transformer was said to have been procured by the authorities of Akoko-Edo Local Government Council for the Igarra Community.
They also condemned the collection of fixed charge by BEDC from electricity consumers in the state, describing it as exploitation on electricity consumers.
