- Ekiti State Rejects BEDC’s 23-day planned power outage in July and August, citing a lack of direct notification and economic burden.
- Commissioner Mobolaji Aluko demands immediate suspension and calls for an emergency meeting with BEDC, TCN, and NERC to discuss alternatives.
- Residents condemn the plan, criticising BEDC’s maintenance practices and calling for state intervention.
The Ekiti State Government rejected the Benin Electricity Distribution Company’s (BEDC) planned 23-day power outage for July and August. BEDC announced outages for nine hours each day from July 1 to August 31 via radio and social media.
Ekiti State Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mobolaji Aluko, criticised BEDC for not informing the state directly. In a letter dated June 30 to the Managing Directors of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and BEDC and the Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Aluko stated that the state received no official notification.
Aluko noted that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities and the Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau (EKSERB) did not receive consultation.
“The planned outage, totalling 558 hours over 62 days, imposes an unacceptable burden on Ekiti State,” Aluko wrote. He demanded an immediate halt to the plan and called for an emergency meeting with TCN, BEDC, and NERC on July 2 in Ado-Ekiti.
TCN cited maintenance on the 132KV Akure-Osogbo transmission line and the installation of Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) for the outages. In their notice, they apologised for the inconvenience and requested patience from affected customers.
Residents strongly opposed the plan. Taiye Paul, a resident, described it as “wicked” and criticised BEDC’s lack of proactive maintenance. Kemi Asubiojo, another consumer, called for government intervention, citing the already erratic power supply and high bills from BEDC.
The emergency meeting aims to address the proposed outages and seek less disruptive solutions.