Residents of Alibuba quarters, Agbor lament BEDC’s broken down transformer, estimated bills

• Residents urge BEDC to provide Pre-paid meters

 The residents of Alibuba quarters in Agbor, Ika Local Government Area of Delta State are groaning under the heavy burdens melted on them by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, (BEDC) after their transformer located after Clem Hotel, Alibuba broke down and the DISCO also churned out ‘crazy bills’ for them to pay for darkness.

Speaking with Gentechnews over their predicaments, a resident who identified herself simply as Mrs Tessy said that the BEDC officials only knew how to carry ladders to houses to disconnect electric wires and look the other way round when transformers broke down.

“We are tired of the antics of this Benin Electricity Distribution Company because we have been agitating for pre-paid meters and after several years of capturing houses, there is nothing in sight to show that houses will be given these pre-paid meters in the next decade.

Tessy said “The Federal Government ought to give an executive order directing all the Discos to provide pre-paid meters to houses in Nigeria, and halt these ‘crazy bills’ that they continue to give to customers without thinking that many of them are living below the poverty levels, while the civil servants’ minimum wages have been eroded through payment of VAT, electricity bill, transportation, among others.

“I am using this medium to call on Benin Disco to urgently fix this broken down transformer at Alibuba quarters, Agbor and stop giving estimated bills. We need pre-paid meters.”

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the BEDC, Agbor office always abandon any area where their transformer break down as they expect the residents to contribute money for such repair as if the transformer is the property of the residents of that area.

“ We have many problems in this country, but the one that hurt most is the DISCOs of which BEDC is one. They should come and fix this transformer at Alibuba quarters, Agbor before we start our own protest like the one that ended SARS,” he added.

Investigation carried out by Gentechnews at Alibuba quarters Agbor at the transformer after Clems Hotel showed that the transformer was not working and the area have not seen electricity light for over one month, while BEDC office in Agbor have distributed bills knowing full well that the area has been in total darkness.

All efforts made to reach out to officials of the Agbor office of BEDC proved abortive before going to press as the security personal there refused entry as soon as he realized that it was a press issue.