Edo Governor Joins Protest Against BEDC Over Power Cuts

Residents of Edo State on Monday staged a protest in Benin City over constant power outages, high electricity bills and the billing method used by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

The demonstration took place at Ring Road in the centre of the city, where people gathered in the morning and later marched through major roads to express their anger over the situation.

The protesters complained about long hours of blackout, estimated billing and the high price of prepaid meters. Many of them carried banners rejecting what they described as unfair charges and poor service.

They said they were tired of paying for electricity without steady supply and called for changes in the way the company operates.

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, arrived at the protest ground and joined the crowd. He said he stopped after seeing the gathering and decided to identify with the people.

The governor assured residents that steps would be taken to address their concerns through dialogue and engagement with relevant parties.

He explained that the electricity distribution company is privately owned and not under the direct control of the state government.

However, he said the government would work with stakeholders to seek solutions. He added that plans were in place to invite more investors into the electricity distribution sector in the state to create competition and improve service delivery.

According to him, ending monopoly in the sector could give residents better options, similar to what is seen in the telecom industry.

One of the protest leaders, who spoke on behalf of the group, said residents across the state felt forced to act because of what they described as unfair practices.

He raised concerns about the free meter scheme and called for transparency in the process. The group also questioned reports that prepaid meters cost between N150,000 and N400,000.

The governor announced that a stakeholders’ meeting would hold on Tuesday and asked the protesters to nominate five representatives to attend the session. He urged them to remain peaceful while discussions continue.

Security officers were present during the protest to maintain order. The demonstration ended peacefully after the governor addressed the crowd and participants dispersed.

As of the time of filing this report, the Benin Electricity Distribution Company had not released any official statement in response to the protest.