*Electricity supply: Edo Govt condemns failure of BEDC as firm throws state into darkness for weeks*

*…Govt seeks alternative electricity distribution company*

Following the failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide electricity to residents of Edo State, the state government has described as “regrettable BEDC’s insensitivity to the suffering and extreme inconveniences it has caused millions of its customers across the state.”

Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, who conveyed the state government’s position on the glaring ineptitude of BEDC in the state, said: “The state government is miffed at BEDC’s failure to deliver electricity to Edo people and for throwing the entire state into darkness.”

Osagie lamented “BEDC’s unprofessional attitude of sitting on their hands to watch their subscribers, most of whom have paid their bills in full, suffer the socio-economic consequences of their incompetence.

“Their action is most regrettable as they have not considered their customers deserving of any apology for the extreme inconveniences, they have caused Edo people and residents.”

He explained that the state government is disturbed by the poor crisis management strategy of the power distribution company and assured that the days and months of darkness inflicted on Edo people are nearing their end.

“The government, however, urges Edo people to be patient as it has taken the initiative to take its destiny in its hands by obtaining a licence for another private power company, Ossiomo Power for the generation and distribution of power, independent of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC),” Osagie said.

The governor’s aide maintained that officials of the state government have been bombarded with torrents of complaints from residents, in every nuke and cranny of the state, about BEDC’s ineffectiveness.