The BEDC Transformer by Ogedegbe Extension(Generator)
By Ejiro Nesisa
The Committee for the Defense of Human Rights,(CDHR) Delta State branch, has tasked the Delta State Governor, RT Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori to intervene in the hanky- panky games exhibited by Benin Electricity Distribution Company(BEDC) to save the people from hands of the organization as many electricity consumers have become slaves in the hands of the organization.
Speaking to Bailout Magazine over the weekend on untold hardship electricity consumers go through in the hands of the organization, the Chairman of CDHR, Delta State branch, Comrade Jonathan Giama said, the transformer in Essi 2 by McDermott Road(Generator) which feeds many streets among which are: Ogedegbe Extension, Gborodje, Okpe, SS L and Tides, went bad or something of that nature, over a month, which deprived them of light.
According to him, when they couldn’t bear the suffering (being in the darkness), they have to alert the Business Unit of the organization which is headed by one Mrs Obina. He said, the Business Manager mandated them to pay April month bills they were owing just as she promised them, if they could pay about N250,000, or so, the transformer would be put in order for them to have light.
He said, despite the fact they have raised good amount of money, they still remained in darkness. Delta State CDHR boss said, by all standards and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Consumers are not duty bound to contribute money before the organization would attend to faulty transformers or any of its properties. According to him, while they were still darkness, some group of people from the same area who allegedly connive with BEDC officials, went round the streets in the area to collect another money which is estimated to be N220,000 from people but whose account it was paid, it was difficult to judge.
The CDHR Chairman now asked Mrs Obina: “Even the N 220, 000 that was allegedly paid by the Reverend of Assembly Church of God and others, whose account was it paid into and what bills do that amount (N220,000) reflect?”Is it true that when consumers are owing bills, that makes BEDC’ transformer not to function or it is the particular consumer that does not pay that would be disconnected to make others pay as promptly as possible?”
According to him, what the area is passing through also affects other areas such as Main Market whose transformer has been bad for the past two years, Edukugho Street, Essi layout whose transformer has been faulty for one and half years- without the organization attending to them.
His words:” If they (BEDC) are really in business as they claim, would they allow their business to be like this? Or it is because, they are extorting money from Nigerians? I am calling on NERC, you said anybody should not pay money to repair transformer to generate light, why is it that people now pay to repair transformer before they can get light?”
On his part, Felix French who also lives in the area said, when the light went off, they met the organization on the 12th of May, to complain and the Business Manager asked them to pay their April bills to enable them put the light in order, which they did and the payment was encouraging.
He however said, the Business Manager said what they paid was not enough for them to have light, adding, that made them further source for more money. According to him, on the day they begged the Business Manager to make them have light ,as soon as they left, another set of persons, to their surprise, came to see the same woman over the same issue- light.
According to him, this made them confuse over what to do. He however said, the Business Manager, Mrs Obina allegedly told them that, the people have been able to raise N 331,000, after the people they had gone round to do the campaign as people turned up for payment and the money paid into their BEDC’ account.
Not left out is Comrade Charles Onokiti. He corroborated what the other two speakers said. He however said, when they were begging the Business Manager to enable them have light, she opened up to them that a Reverend in that area had promised to pay N200,000 adding, if that the Business Manager was waiting for, he could not judge. They all appealed to the State Government to do something to rescue Deltans from darkness.
When contacted, the Warri Business Manager, Benin Electricity Distribution Company(BEDC), Mrs Obina said, the area was not given power (light) because they are owing huge electricity bills. According to her, power is no longer an essential commodity but now commercialized adding, it is now meant for those who can afford its bills and regularly. She said, when the area did not have light, many group of people from the same area cried to her and she promised to give them light if they could pay their outstanding bills. However, she said, when one Pastor from the same axis promised and paid the sum of N220,000 for fifty persons who were owing N4,400 each, in addition to what individuals had earlier paid into the company’s account, light was restored for them.
According to her, what the people had paid at present is a far cry from what they owe – which is not less than N84 million. She however said, she never held that against them but asked them to pay the current bills to enable them have light. According to her, she gave them light with the hope, that before the organization would go round for another round of disconnection, many people would have paid substantial amount of money from the current bills they are owing. According to her, she never asked any person to collect money in whatever form but they should pay their bills to have light.
Her words: “The people are not co-ordinated. They have different groups coming to my office to beg for the light. I even asked one group to put it in writing, which they did. You can see( bringing out the copy of the letter to show the Correspondent). So, l am not aware of any money collection. I only told them to announce to others that if they can pay some substantial money from bills they are owing, they would have light and of course, which l have done”.