Member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ben Rollands Igbakpa, has moved a motion of urgent public importance on the need to address the protracted blackout in Mosogar and Edjemuoyavwe communities in Ethiope West Local Govt Area of Delta State.
This is coming on the heels of a recent outcry by the people of Enuani in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State over an 18-year blackout in several communities in the area.
Igbakpa, while speaking to the motion after it was moved and seconded, noted that “for about seven years, major parts of Ethiope West Local Government Area, particularly Mosogar and Edjemudarho communities, have been in total blackout as a result of total failure by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to discharge their duties in the distribution of power/electricity to the affected areas.”
He noted that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company Limited, BEDC, is quick to “collect bills from customers but whenever there are technical issues or faults requiring attention to fix their assets such as transformers, cables, poles etc. under their management and or control, the company abandons and or abdicates such responsibilities by compelling the customers to fix such faults or provide money to purchase it.”
Igbakpa further disclosed that the electricity distribution company in 2016 insisted on the community paying it’s calculated outstanding bill of N12 million before the supply and installation of a stepdown transformer, adding that after the payment and installation of the transformer, it broke down two days later.
According to the lawmaker, the community cried to the Delta State Government which provided two transformers which were installed, adding that when invited to energize them, BEDC again insisted on the payment of N10 million as reconnection fees. “This money was paid by the community, but shortly after the BEDC installed the transformers, they crashed again.”
The House resolved to “Invite the management of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for proper interaction to ascertain the root cause (s) of the perennial lack of or total failure of electricity supply and/or distribution to Mosogar, Edjemuoyavwe and other affected areas in Ethiope West LGA of Delta State with a view to finding a lasting solution.
“Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to be up to their responsibilities of supervision and ensure that Distribution companies all over the country don’t continue to thrive in deceit and rip-off of consumers
“Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) should initiate a performance Audit on all DISCOs to either perform the terms of their obligation to Nigerians or close shop which will enable companies with the requisite capacities take over the electricity distribution services in the country and report back to the house in two weeks.”
Meanwhile, the Enuane Communities in Aniocha South Local Government Area, under the auspices of Enuani Project Group, EPG, has called on the State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial District and other elected officials who represent the people of Enuani at different levels of government to intervene and ensure that electricity is restored to the people of the clan.
The communities also called on Hon. Ndidi Elumelu, member representing Aniocha South/Aniocha North in the House of Representatives, Hon. Austine Chikezie, who represents Aniocha South in the Delta State House of Assembly and the State Commissioner for Power, Hon. Ganagana, to ensure electric power supply is restored to the area.
The New Diplomat learnt that power supply to the affected communities was cut off 18 years ago when the 33Kva supply line from Ogwashi-Uku collapsed at Kwale junction.
In a statement by the President-General of Enuane Project Group, Comrade Chinedu Eugene Modebe, he called for the immediate rehabilitation of the dilapidated 33KVA line that feeds the (area) from the Ogwashi-Uku Kwale Junction, adding that it was the dilapidation of that main supply line that threw the affected communities into darkness for the past 18 years.
He stated that all appeals made by the people to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) to restore electricity to the area by linking the affected communities to the 2.5MVA line that has a sub-station at Ewulu have so far been unheeded.
The President-General regretted that the lack of electricity has brought unbearable hardship on the people living in the affected communities, adding that it continues to scare investors away and prevent development in the area.
Communities affected by the nearly two decades total darkness include Olodu, Olloh, Ewulu, Isheagu, Isikiti. Ukwu-Oba, Umute, Aba-Unor and Adonte among others.
