Edo Decries Lack of Electricity in 195 Communities

• Edo Decries Lack of Electricity in 195 Communities

The Edo State Government has said that over 195 communities across the 18 local government areas of the state have yet to be connected to the national grid.

It explained that 128 of the communities had been disconnected due to issues bordering on faulty equipment, which required rehabilitation.

The Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, stated these during an interactive session with electricity customers in the South-South region; organised by an ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives in Benin.

Shaibu said that the interim report of a special committee set up by the state government to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the state of power supply showed that 55 communities were disconnected for alleged indebtedness to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company.

He added that 219 transformers required replacement.

The deputy governor, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, lamented that while no community enjoyed electricity supply for more than eight hours a day, the debt owed by electricity consumers in the state stood at N6,470,543.98.

He said, “This interactive session is very germane and most timely considering the huge outcry by electricity consumers all over the country, particularly, in Edo State.”