Residents of Edo State took to the streets on Monday to protest ongoing power outages and the billing system of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), with Governor Monday Okpebholo joining the demonstration in solidarity.
The protest, held at Ring Road in central Benin City, saw participants carrying banners with messages such as “We say no to BEDC oppression,” “No light, no bill,” and “Edo people say no to bulk billing.”
One protester, Ogbidi Emmanuel, criticized the electricity company’s handling of services, saying, “We pay for light, and they give us darkness.” He also questioned BEDC’s free meter distribution programme and called for transparency regarding the recipients, noting that meters reportedly cost between ₦150,000 and ₦400,000.
Governor Okpebholo urged protesters to remain calm and assured them that the state government would engage investors to improve electricity distribution and foster competition, similar to the telecom sector. He emphasized that BEDC is a private company and not directly controlled by the state government but confirmed that steps would be taken to address residents’ concerns.
A stakeholders’ meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, with the governor asking the protesters to select five representatives to participate. The protest remained peaceful, and security personnel were on hand to maintain order. As of filing, BEDC had not responded to the allegations.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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