A prominent human right activist in Delta, Mr. Victor Ojei has launched an online campaign against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over alleged sharp practices.
Ojei told journalists on Friday in Asaba that the launch of the online campaign through watsapp platform is aimed at mobilizing public awareness to BEDC’s ‘unjust billing practices in Delta.’
“Are you not tired of erratic power supply and exorbitant bills from BEDC in Delta State?
“If you are, then join us in our fight with one voice against extortion and unfair practices of the BEDC.
“Despite the erratic power supply, DEDC has continue to demand astronomical payments from electricity consumers here in Delta.
“What exactly are we paying for in Delta, when electricity supply is zero. Enough is enough. We demand that BEDC must go”, he said.
Ojei, who is popularly known as ‘Wong Box’ is the founder and Executive Director of the Young Nigerian Rights Organisation (YNRO), a civil society group based in Asaba.
He said the online watsapp group provides a platform for members of the public to channel their complaints, share their experiences and demand an end to BEDC’s exploitative practices.
However, when contacted, BEDC’s Head of Asaba Regional Office, Mr. Henry Dafe Onovwaka told our correspondent in an interview that Ojei’s action was borne out of ignorance.
“We are aware of what Ojei is doing and we had expected that he will come to us to get the facts of the matter.
“For instance, most of the issues he raised in his allegations are far beyond BEDC’s area of authority.
“The erratic power supply is no longer news in Nigeria, this problem is not restricted to Delta State alone. There is low gas supply across the nation.
“It is general knowledge that the amount of energy being generated in the country is not enough to meet the overall energy needs of the populance.
“As at today, Asaba district receives an average of 25 megawatts of electricity when we are suppose to get atleast 80 megawatts in order to maintain 12 to 16 hours service per day for every household.
Onovwaka further explained that there are three chains involved in electricity energy production in Nigeria.
He listed the energy production chains to include, electricity generation, transmission and distribution.
According to him, BEDC is only involved in energy distribution like many other DisCos across the country.
“What people don’t understand is that BEDC cannot give what it does not have. We don’t generate energy, we only distribute based on what we have.
“The demand for energy is far beyond what the country is generating at the moment. This is a general problem and people should understand that.
On the allegation of over-billing, Onovwaka said that BEDC’s billing is based on energy consumption from meter reading.
He said the company does not bill its consumers illegally as being alleged by Ojei, stressing that every billing is done according to reading obtained from the meter.
The regional head also attributed the alleged over-billing of consumers to energy theft by unscrupulous individuals.
“Do you know that there are over 30 percent electricity users connected to our network that we don’t have in our data base?
“Energy theft is a serious issue here and when this crime occurs, it contributes to over-billing because energy consumed as recorded by the meter has to be accounted for.
“This is why we continue to appeal to the public to report any individual or institution that are illegally connected to electricity or are by-passing our meter”, Onovwaka said.
He disclosed that BEDC Asaba district have installed over 15,000 prepaid meters since his assupmtion of office as regional head from October 2022 to date.
According to him, the spread of meter installation had been delayed due to ongoing upgrading of the existing prepaid meter to be 4G compliant.
The BEDC regional head explained that there is a new directive that every prepaid meter should be 4G model as against the old 2G and 3G models.
“As a result of this directive, we had to delay in continuing the installation process. Our contractors have gone back to the market to get us the 4G model.
“I can assure our esteem customers that once the order arrive soonest, BEDC will continue with the installation so that every household will get a prepaid meter”, he said.