- OSCF petitions NERC over persistent blackout
- Allege several irregularities in the electricity bills from BEDC
- Appeal to the state and federal government to come to their aid
The Ondo South Consultative Forum (OSCF) have lamented the persistent blackout in some area councils in the state. The Forum stated that they had written several petitions to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the matter. Furthermore, regarding the debt owed to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the OSCF stated that the electricity bills had been disputed due to several irregularities.
“We scrutinised the bills tendered by BEDC and discovered several irregularities, jumbled figures and duplications of names and addresses. Indeed, BEDC bills clearly showed disjointed claims, bogus, fraudulent and unverifiable amounts.” the Forum said.
“Keeping millions of people in darkness for this long certainly negated the lofty and good rural and urban development programme by the government to discourage migration from the rural environment to the cities.”
The Ondo state government reacting to the issue, has met with the residents of the affected communities to find a lasting solution. The Information and Orientation Commissioner, Donald Ojogo, has stated that the administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu is determined to find a lasting solution to the matter. “Mr Governor is clearheaded about the fact that the wealth of the state is in the belly of the southern district and therefore can’t allow the people to live in darkness,” Ojogo said.
“Akeredolu, in his determination and commitment to restore electricity to the areas, met with stakeholders from the areas, and this will be achieved soon,” he added.