Abudu – The General hospital, Abudu, seems to be the worse hit with the power problem affecting the administrative headquarters of Orhionmwon Local Government Area (LGA) of Edo state, and adjoining communities, as the Medical Director, Dr Alimasunya Emmanuel said the facility has been running without power supply from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for 14-years.

He said the hospital management spend N70,000 monthly, for the purchase of diesel (gasoline), to power its electricity generating set.

Dr Alimasunya who spoke with our correspondent at Abudu, while reacting to the power situation in the area, attributed the problem to accumulated electricity bills owed BEDC, by previous management of the hospital.

The amount which was put at N800,000, Alimasunya explained that, it was reduced to N500,000, after a meeting between the hospital and the company recently.

He appealed to BEDC to defer the said amount, in the interest of the mostly indigent patients especially at night, as the hospital generator is use only during the day.

Meanwhile, the situation has crippled economic activities in Abudu town, and adjoining communities, as courts, health and business centres now depend on generators and solar energy to power their appliances and equipment.

Related News

Residents now flock business centres to charge their mobile phones and other rechargable gadgets, at fixed amount, while the Primary Health Center (PHC) fitted with solar panels, runs on generator, as it was learnt the solar is for powering the Cold Chain Office (CCO) where vaccines for the 35 PHCs in the LGA are preserved.

The Odionwere, Pa Sunday Izekor said Abudu has been without electricity, for 6months running, due to a broken down overloaded transformer at Oghada community, adding, efforts to see that power is restore back to the area, has been unsuccessful.

At Evbuobanosa, a member of the committee handling the power issue, Mr Taye Elaho expressed disappointed over the lingering situation, describing it as “pathetic”.

However, efforts to reach the head of BEDC office at Agbor, in charge of the affected areas prove abortive, as he was said to be in Asaba, the Delta State capital, for a meeting.

But, the council chairman, Hon. Silvester Okoro has assured the affected communities that measures are already in place, to fastrack the restoration of electricity.

“The council have earlier mobilized a team to BEDC, and we have even discussed with the state governor and EDSOPADEC on the matter, so we can work together to ensure it works for the people”, Hon. Okoro told The Nigerian Observer