.. .As Lawmaker Threatens Legislative Action Against BEDC
BENIN CITY – The unending blackout in parts of Orhionmwon local government area of Edo state have crippled socio economic activities at Abudu, the administrative headquarters and adjourning communities.
The situation has become a source of worries to the people, even as business centers, courts, health care facilities, and local government secretariat depends heavily on power generating sets to carry out their functions.
Investigations revealed, General hospitals at Igbanke and Abudu as well as the Primary Health Centers operates on generators.
But, solar panels connected at the Abudu Health centre, it was learnt are solely to power the Cold Chain Office (CCO) that preserve vaccines for the 35 PHCs the local government.
Abudu general hospital expends N70,000 monthly to purchase diesel (gasoline), to power its electricity generating set.
According to its Medical Director, Dr Alimasunya Emmanuel, the facility has been without power supply from the national grid for more than 14-years.
The situation has however forced residents of the affected communities of Igbanke, Ugbeze, Iru, Oza, Evwuobanosa, Igbanke, Abudu to patronize business centres to ‘pay and charge’ their rechargable gadgets.
It was due to a broken down 2.5 KVA electricity transformer at Oghada, a community in Uhunmwode local government, that affected Ubve, Iguomoson, Ugbogiri and other surrounding communities connected to it.
The people lamented, the blackout has persisted despite concerted efforts for years, to addressed the lingering problem.
“Nothing has been done; it is just promises, upon promises. We’ve not heard anything.
“I’d to still charge my phone with gen before I can listen to any news”, Mr Arhuagbon, a resident at Iguododo community lamented
Similarly, residents of Uromehe, Urhonigbe, Umoghun-Zagbor, Evboesi and others said that despite prompt payment of their electricity bills, the area still suffers epileptic power supply.
“We get light sometimes, twice in a week.. ..
“the number of times we get light is not even commensurate with the bills we pay”, HRH Igbinosa Iyayomwangbe, Enogie of Umoghunmwun-Zuagbor told our correspondent.
The council chairman, Silvester Okoro had in August last year assured the people that measures were already in place to fix the problem, but the situation seems the same ever since.
However, the member representing Orhionmwon Constituency 1 at Edo State House of Assembly, Nosayaba Okunbor on Monday explained that, he had led an intervention party to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) offices at Agbor and Asaba in Delta state, but to no avail.
The lawmaker, who spoke in his office, at the Anthony Enahoro Complex said the matter had since been brought to the state government’s attention, adding, governor Godwin Obaseki had directed the Ministry of Energy and Electricity to look into it.
“We’re still waiting for the governor; but, if it now get to a point were we’re push to a tight corner where we see there is no headway, then we will use the necessary legislative authorities to ensuring we bring BEDC to order on the issue”, Okunbor further added
When our correspondent visited the Head office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Benin city, a management staff who spoke off record advised, the affected area to write officially through their electricity committee, to BEDC business unit at Agbor, in Delta State.
The official further advised the committee to copy the company’s Head office, adding they should follow necessary guidelines afterwards, to resolve the power crisis.
