Indegenes and residents of Sapele a lucrative town in Delta State have asked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC to be ready to face the consequences if it
fails to heed its call to restore and supply moderate power to Sapele town within one week.

Sapele town has been in perpetual darkness for months as a result of
BEDC’s inability to supply electric power to one of the foremost towns Nigerian towns.

The people of Sapele handed down the threat during a peaceful protest
to the Office of the Distribution Company which shares the same
premises with African Timber& Plywood, AT& P in Sapele, Sapele Local
Government Area of Delta State.

The protesters who began their protests from the heart of Sapele called Olympia chanted solidarity
songs and matched through major streets in Sapele to register their
anger against BEDC while bearing placards with inscriptions such as
“Jegede must Go”, “ No Light, No bill”, “ Give us Prepaid Metres” also
accused BEDC of alleged overbilling and the failure to supply light
to them even when they pay their bills as at when due.

Those having power at the moment are those using 33 KV
Transformers(Industrial lines) while the others wallow in darkness. Many of the leaders of the town are also on the industrial lines and dont seem to feel act or care about the energy situations in the town

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabor the Parish Priest of St. Patrick Catholic Church Sapele
issued the BEDC one week ultimatum to restore and supply moderate power to
Sapele or be ready to face the consequences.

Fr. Ekabor noted that the few companies in Sapele have closed down
while some of them have relocated to other towns as a result of power
outage in the town.

According to Him, “I pay my bills and I see no reason why Sapele, a
foremost town should not have light. Companies like Eternit are dying
and relocating. We are giving BEDC one week ultimatum to restore and
supply light to Sapele town or be ready to face the music.”

In a swift reaction, BEDC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr.
Adekunle Tayo stated that the company decided to withhold supply of
power from Sapele town because the people don’t pay light bills.

Tayo said, “ It is what we have we give to the public” noting that the company is into deficit of 41% and above.”

In his words, “This is what we are supposed to give out. The 33KV
Transformer is for industrial lines.”

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