By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The nation’s parlous energy situation took the centre stage on Monday in Asaba as stakeholders lamented the massive power outages in Delta State, particularly Sapele.
They also agreed on eight – hour daily uninterrupted power supply for Sapele.
Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Mr Monday Igbuya, described the electricity situation in Sapele as unbearable and oppressive.
Mr Igbuya spoke on the recent protest in Sapele.
He gave his view on the drop in electricity supply in the country and its effects on people and organizations during.
His comments follow a recent protest concerning the worsening electricity situation in Sapele and the failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide uninterrupted power supply in Sapele.
Mr Igbuya criticised the tales out of BEDC, the deluge of excuses of non-performance and the shifting of responsibilities to the consumers and other partners.
He said the high monthly bills did not reflect the epileptic power supply.
The Speaker, while calling for an end to the epileptic power supply in Sapele, decried the ever- spiralling cost of diesel needed to power alternative source of electricity.
“What can the good people of Sapele do with epileptic power supply? The situation has killed small and medium scale ventures. It has also increased unemployment and social tension,” he said.
He urged BEDC to stop illegal collections by providing prepaid meters.
“Sapele people will pay their electricity bills,” he said.
Residents of Sapele in December protested the poor electricity supply to the area by BEDC. They not only condemned the three hour electricity supply a day but lamented that many companies had shut down because of poor power supply.
Adedapo Adesanya