Delta State: Ngwa Estate, Okpanam Residents Purchase BEDC’s Transformer for over 7Million.

  • Residents in darkness for past two years,count losses
  • BEDC contractor demand 1Million to energize transformer
  • Call for Delta State government intervention

As Nigerians are gearing up for the yuletide celebrations, residents of Ngwu Estate in Okpanam, Asaba are counting their losses in businesses as a result of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)  removing their transformer for the past two years and complying the Community to purchase a new transformer.

Investigation has shown that the Community through the Landlord Association contributed over 7million naira to purchase a new transformer for the quarter, but the contractor from BEDC has refused to mount the transformer until another N1 Million Naira is raise for the contractor before the transformer will be mounted and energized.

It was also gathered that the residents were made to change all their wooden poles to concrete poles.

According to  a resident who spoke on condition of anonymity also lamented that all their resources have gone into procuring the transformer and poles which will remain the property of BEDC thereafter.

“We have been in darkness for the past two years. Our businesses have suffered as we only used generators for our residence as well. We bought the transformer for over 7million for BEDC since over five months yet the contractor as we heard says that until another N1 Million Naira is paid the transformer will not be mounted and energised.

“It is high time that the Delta State Government should intervene because we have been suffering for two years in darkness. I wonder why the government unbundled NEPA for BEDC. Government should investigate what BEDC is doing to us. They refused to mount the transformer we bought for the company with our community money. I don’t know what we should do because after this they will come up with their estimated bill since houses in the area don’t have pre paid meters,” he revealed.

Pundits believe that the Benin Disco only exists by name and to collect revenue for the owner and is never interested in building infrastructure for transmission of power to the end users.

“Any problem that arises in any environment the people around must bear the cost of repair, else the place will remain in darkness. This was never experienced under NEPA. Government should call this Benin Disco to stop ripping off customers through providing infrastructure for a company that generates revenue from the same people they are subjecting to purchase transformers, poles and wires for connecting pre-paid meters. This should stop forthwith,” they added.

The Ngwu resident appealed to Gentechnews to call on BEDC to come and mount their transformer and energise it for them to enjoy electricity during the Christmas that is forthcoming.

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