ECSO protests poor performance of BEDC, calls for its scrapping

Members of the Civil Society of Organisation, Edo State Monday blocked the Oba Ovoramen square in Benin City protesting against the poor performance of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company. Pius Nsogho reports that the protesters also blocked the entrance to the Corporate Head Office of the BEDC during the protest. In what seemed like a regular occurrence, at the city Centre, the protesters, under the aegis of civil society organization, matched round the Oba Ovoramen square forcing motorists to use only a single lane, which was barely adequate as it created traffic grid lock in the process. The protesters who condemned the abnormal performance of BEDC said estimated billing intimidation of election customers using security agents, and poor supply of power to consumers were parts of their reasons for the protest. In a swift reaction, the Head of Communication BEDC, Mr Tayo Adekunle describe the protest as unnecessary and lacking in merit. He said the issues raised by the protesters are already being looked into. Mt Adekunle who scored the BEDC performance in Edo state high, noted that out of the four states under BEDC preference is given to consumers in Edo state. The corporate affairs manager who showed the crew some cables removal from customers who contravene the rules, said the company is working out ways of ensuring that meters are issued to consumers within the next five years.