- Protesters gathered at Ring Road in Benin City to demonstrate against the persistent power outages and the controversial billing system of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
- Governor Monday Okpebholo took the unusual step of joining the demonstrators, expressing solidarity with the youths and residents over what they termed “oppressive practices.”
- The Governor has pledged to break the electricity distribution monopoly in the state by inviting new investors to provide residents with competitive alternatives.
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on Monday joined hundreds of residents in Benin City to protest against the persistent blackouts and perceived exploitation by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
Eko Hot Blog reports the demonstrators, who converged at the iconic Ring Road, carried placards with inscriptions such as “No light, no bill,” “We say no to BEDC oppression,” and “Edo people say no to bulk billing.”
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The protesters expressed deep frustration over frequent power outages, the continued use of estimated billing, and the exorbitant cost of prepaid meters, which reportedly range between N150,000 and N400,000.
Ogbidi Emmanuel, speaking on behalf of the group, challenged the transparency of the distribution company, noting that residents are tired of paying for services they do not receive.
While addressing the crowd, Governor Okpebholo emphasized that though BEDC is a private entity, the state government would not stand by while citizens suffer.
He compared the current electricity crisis to the telecommunications sector before liberalization, suggesting that the only way to ensure stable power and fair pricing is to introduce competition.
“The only way we can fight this is to bring new investors into the business of distribution. We will break the monopoly,” the Governor stated.
He assured the protesters that his administration is committed to creating an environment where multiple providers can operate, giving Edo residents the power to choose their service providers.
Governor Okpebholo has scheduled an emergency stakeholders’ meeting for Tuesday to address the grievances.
In a move to ensure the people’s voices are heard directly, he invited the protesters to nominate five representatives to sit at the table during the negotiations.
The demonstration remained peaceful, with security personnel ensuring order as the Governor’s intervention helped calm tensions in the state capital.
