Joel Osaigbovo Aluge Reporting
Benin City
The prolonged power outage by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company which started on 13 November 2023 has left many in darkness, impacting daily life and business and sparking concerns about the reliability of the region’s power infrastructure.
BEDC had announced in November that it would temporarily disrupt power supply across some parts of Edo State with effect from Monday, 13 November 2023, to end by 7 January 2024.
A circular issued by the BEDC management then had explained the planned power disruption was due to a network upgrade exercise by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the Ihovbor Transmission Station.
The affected areas as listed by BEDC included Ihovbor, Ikpoba Hill, Benin-Agbor Road, Auchi Road, Temboga, Upper Mission, Army Signal, Igiesota, Ikhuenero village and environs, Siluko Road, New-Benin Market, psychiatric hospital, banks around Uniben, Okhoro Road, Federal Road, Upper Lawani, Uteh Village, as well as the palace and environs.
Others are Adolor, FGGC Road, Ugbowo, Ekosodin, Ishior and environs, Ekiadolor, Uselu, Oluku, Iwoya, Okhun, Utekon, Otokhore, Ora communities, Textile Mill Road, Egbor, Obanosa, and Uwelu and environs.
The disruption which was expected to last for approximately eight weeks is now in the 16th week as of today February 26 with total blackout still the order of the day in the affected areas.
The BEDC’s failure to fulfill its commitment has prompted residents to voice their grievances, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in the management of power distribution. Questions are being asked about the underlying issues causing the delay of the measures taken by the utility company to address the situation promptly.