By Lucky Uto
Governor Monday Okpebholo on Monday joined hundreds of youths and residents in Benin City to protest the prolonged power outage and controversial billing practices linked to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), pledging urgent reforms and fresh investment in electricity distribution.
Addressing demonstrators at the popular Ring Road axis of the metropolis, the governor appealed for calm while assuring that swift action would follow.
He clarified that BEDC is a privately owned company and not under the direct control of the Edo State Government, but stressed that the administration would not fold its arms.
Okpebholo declared that breaking the distribution monopoly remains the most viable solution to the persistent blackout and billing complaints.
According to him, the state is exploring ways to attract new investors into the electricity distribution business, creating alternatives similar to Nigeria’s competitive telecom sector.
“The only way we can fight this is to bring new investors into the business of distribution. We will break the monopoly. We want to operate like the telecom sector, where you have alternatives,” he said.
The governor further announced that a high-level stakeholders’ meeting would be held on Tuesday to chart a path forward.
He urged protesters to nominate five representatives to participate in the engagement, noting that inclusive dialogue would help secure stable and reliable electricity supply.
“We need to engage them to see how we can bring in more investors into electricity distribution. Once that is done, we will all be more assured of stable power,” he added.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the protesters, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi, said residents across Edo State were left with no choice but to take to the streets over what he described as oppressive practices and unbearable electricity bills amid darkness.
The protest highlights growing frustration among consumers as pressure mounts for structural reforms in the state’s power distribution sector.
