Lack of Power: BEDC Staff Chased out of Office in Warri

Lack of Power: BEDC Staff Chased out of Office in Warri 

Protests by aggrieved citizens and customers of the Benin Electricity Development Company (BEDC) over outrageous bills amid generally dismal performance appears to be intensifying across Delta State as staff of the company were today forced to flee their office in Warri, Delta State. besieged by protesters.

Electricity consumers, particularly in Asaba and Warri metropolis have embarked on massive demonstration In the last few days to drive home their disenchantment with the performance of the electricity distribution company, BEDC, which the people said they had would end their energy nightmare before the privatization of the energy generation and distribution process.

This is even as the Delta State Commissioner for Energy, Mr Newworld Safugha, charged the management of BEDC to improve on power supply to urban and rural communities across the state.

Safugha gave the charge during a stakeholders’ meeting in his office attended by management staff of BEDC in Asaba,the state capital.

However, protesters on Thursday took to the street in Warri condemning what they described as "untold hardship" foisted on them due to epileptic supply of electricity by the company, which operates in Delta, Edo and Ondo states.

Numerous protesters had earlier on Wednesday also protested along major streets in Warri, including Ogboru, Obahor and Eboh streets in the heart of Warri in Warri South Local Government Area of the state.

They were joined by many women and youths in lauding school children, who are still on Easter holiday, and marched from Ogboru through Obahor and Eboh streets and Ginuwa Junction to the BEDC office on the ever-busy Warri-Sapele Road. 

However, the BEDC staff apparently got wind of the plan by the protester to storm the office, abandoned the office and fled for dear lives before the huge crowd of protesters could march on the office.

The protester, who were armed with fresh green leaves and chanting songs like: "we nor go pay o, we nor go pay, NEPA people we nor go pay," were denied entry by armed anti-riot policemen who were swiftly deployed to maintain law and order. 

The protesters described as "exploitative and ungodly" the continued payment of exorbitant bills for electricity they did not consume but their businesses were increasingly unprofitable as they have to rely on expensive fuel to power generators.