The close proximity to the 600 megawatts Delta IV power generating station notwithstanding, Ughelli metropolis which is the headquarters of Ughelli North Local Government Area has been plunged into darkness for more than two weeks now, prompting the residents to raise alarm over what they regard as negligence on the part of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC).
A case of one ‘living by the riverside and washing one’s hands with spittle’, as one resident put it, Delta IV Transcorp Power Plant is one of the oldest and efficient power generating station which supplies power to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, which, in turn, distributes power to Ughelli and its environ through the national grid. However, the proximity to power notwithstanding, the area is perpetually plunged into darkness most part of the year.
However, waiting endlessly in vain for light, the residents of the area took to the street recently to protest the prolong darkness which has crippled commercial and social activities in Ughelli metropolis and its environs.
Fielding questions from newsmen recently, a popular hotelier in the metropolis, Chief Onosakponome Johnson, lamented that business has almost grinded to halt due to lack of public power supply, adding that it is becoming hellish to continue to buy fuel at the prevailing exorbitant pump price to run generators.
“With the current darkness enveloping Ughelli metropolis for the past two weeks, we are already going out of business. I cannot continue to buy fuel at the current exorbitant price to run my hotel and vehicles. This is becoming worrisome.
“The management of BEDC has so far refused to offer explanation to the current blackout it has imposed on all of us in Ughelli North Local Government Area. We cannot continue like this. The federal government has to step in to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians as it concerns power supply.
“I’m quite elated with the ongoing Constitution amendment where State governments can now run the business of public power supply. I just hope that the amendment will pass through at the end of the and become law”, he said.
Revd. Dr. Thomas Akatika, who is a clergy man from the Paradise of Life Ministry in Ughelli, said that life was becoming unbearable every day for the common man due to increase in the pump price of fuel and incessant power failure.
He attributed the recent happenings in Nigeria and all over the world to signs of the end time, urging Christians to depend on God for survival.
A former Councillor from Ughelli North Local Government Council, Reginald Ubeku described Benin Electrical Distribution Company, BEDC, as a scam, which had caused more harm to residents of Ughelli and environs by extorting consumers with estimated billing without regular supply of electricity that was commensurate to the bills.
He said officials of the BEDC in Ughelli used every slight opportunity to keep the town in perpetual darkness while they continue to collect payments on estimated bills at the expense of the consumers.
However, responding to enquiry, Ughelli Business Manager of BEDC, Mr. Bethel Ebuiwhe, said that “the power failure in Ughelli and environs was due to broken electricity poles that were destroyed by rainstorm along the Ughelli-Patani Express Way and some parts of the Isoko Road in the area.”
He however regretted the hardship the outage had caused individuals and business owners in Ughelli and environs, adding that the situation was becoming embarrassing and appealed for calm.
