Sapele indegenes and residents have asked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC to be ready to face the consequences if it fails to heed its call to restore and supply light to Sapele town within one week.
Sapele town has been in perpetual darkness for months as a result of BEDC’s inability to supply light to one of the foremost towns Nigerian towns.
The people of Sapele handed down the threat during a peaceful protest to the Office of the Distribution Company which shares the same premises with African Timber& Plywood, AT& P in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
The protesters who began their protests from Olympia chanted solidarity songs and matched through major streets in Sapele to register their anger against BEDC while bearing placards with inscriptions such as “Jegede must Go”, “ No Light, No bill”, “ Give us Prepaid Metres” also accused BEDC of alleged overbilling and the failure to supply light to them even when they pay their bills as at when due.
Those having light at the moment are those using 33 KV Transformers(Industrial lines) while the others wallow in darkness.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabor issued the BEDC one week ultimatum to restore and supply light to Sapele or be ready to face the consequences.
Fr. Ekabor noted that the few companies in Sapele have closed down while some of them have relocated to other towns as a result of power outage in the town.
According to Him, “I pay my bills and I see no reason why Sapele, a foremost town should not have light. Companies like Eternit are dying and relocating. We are giving BEDC one week ultimatum to restore and supply light to Sapele town or be ready to face the music.”
In a swift reaction, BEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr. Adekunle Tayo stated that the company decided to withhold supply of power from Sapele town because the people don’t pay light bills.
Tayo said, “ It is what we have we give to the public” noting that the company is into deficit of 41% and above.”
In his words, “This is what we are supposed to give out. The 33KV Transformer is for industrial lines.”
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