Governor Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday presided over a crucial stakeholders’ meeting with key players in Edo State’s electricity sector following a recent peaceful protest in Benin City over power supply and billing concerns.
Addressing participants, the governor described the issues raised as complex, stressing that they could not be resolved in isolation and would require broader engagement involving all critical actors in the electricity value chain. He recalled that he had earlier appealed to protesting youths and promised to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to address their grievances.
“We need to call for a larger stakeholders’ meeting. I can see that we cannot get a solution now. Every reasonable person should understand that BEDC is not generating power. They are service providers. We need to also look at that aspect,” the governor said.
Okpebholo, who described himself as a telecom expert familiar with metering systems, explained that some of the meter deductions complained about by residents were structured repayment mechanisms.
“Such deductions are meant to enable consumers run for a period before they start buying units, but they will gradually pay back. So they give you the opportunity to start using it and gradually you pay back. Please don’t be too worried about that,” he stated.
He, however, emphasised the need for a holistic solution and called on Azura Power West Africa Limited to engage further with the state government.
“And Azura, we need to talk. I also want to appeal to Azura because the information I’m getting is that you are transmitting power to neighbouring states while Edo State is not getting enough. We need to find a solution to this problem totally,” he added.
The governor assured residents that his administration would not ignore their concerns and reiterated his commitment to improved power supply and fairness in service delivery. He directed that a broader stakeholders’ meeting be convened to include all relevant actors in the power value chain. He also appealed for calm, urging residents to remain law-abiding while efforts continue to resolve the issues.
Responding to complaints, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Benin Electricity Distribution Company(BEDC), Engr. Jonathan Lawani, noted that a critical stakeholder, the Transmission Company of Nigeria**, was absent from the meeting, stressing that the electricity distribution chain is interconnected.
Explaining that generation companies depend largely on gas supply, Lawani said BEDC operates like a retailer. “See BEDC as a retailer who buys from another person. If he doesn’t sell to me, I can’t sell to Edo or any other state,” he said.
According to him, BEDC requires about 760 megawatts to adequately serve its franchise area but currently receives approximately 260 megawatts. “As I speak today, what we are getting is 260 plus. So how do I share it?” he asked.
Lawani clarified that tariff structures are regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission**, noting that BEDC does not have the authority to arbitrarily adjust electricity tariffs.
On the Federal Government’s free meter programme, he said the company collaborated with the government to facilitate a World Bank loan for meter procurement and has deployed thousands at no upfront cost, warning residents against patronising individuals who illegally sell or install meters.
Earlier, leader of the protesting group “Edo Against BEDC Oppression,” Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel, said residents took to the streets over prolonged outages, estimated billing and alleged sale of meters meant to be free. He claimed several communities had been without electricity for months and alleged that some residents who purchased transformers and cables were asked to donate them before installation.
The meeting, held at Government House in Benin City, brought together representatives of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, officials of Azura Power, senior state government functionaries and other stakeholders in the electricity sector.
