Members of the Edo State Civil Society of Organizations (EDOSCO) have urged the Nigeria government not to renew licence of Discos especially that of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) when it expires in December this year.
The groups who protested against poor electricity supply said the Discos have failed to meet targets and needs of millions of electricity consumers.
Spokesperson and President of EDOSCO, Comrade Omobude Agho, picked holes in claim by the BEDC that it planned to distribute 190, 000 meters to customers in Edo state.
Omobude said “They said today is Democracy Day but for us today is Electricity Democracy Day. Our leaders and governors have abandoned us.
“In any country where there is no electricity, corruption and crime will not end.
Some of the placards carried by the protesting groups read; “No going back on December deadline, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo and Delta people reject BEDC; BPE has compromised, BEDC has failed woefully”.
But Management of the BEDC said its licence would not expire in December.
Executive Director (Commercial), of the BEDC, Dr. Abu Ejoor described the protest as a disturbance to public peace.
Dr. Ejoor urged customers to disregard the protest and such deliberate misrepresentation as there is no expiration of the license BEDC in December as alleged by the protesters.
He “The licenses issued to BEDC and other discos is 15 years, with a renewal of extension of another ten years, after the expiration of same.
“We are presently in court with them on two cases. BEDC took some suspects including EDOSCO members to court in March 2017 at a Benin Federal High Court for alleged tampering with electrical fittings – a crime punishable under section 3 (6) of the miscellaneous offenses Act cap M.17 Laws of Nigeria 2004.”