The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Saturday berated the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, over its poor services in the state.
Akeredolu, who lamented over the lack of public power supply to some parts of the state, with the southern senatorial district being the most affected, stated that the attitude of BEDC was unbecoming.
The governor, who spoke at a wedding ceremony in Okitipupa, the headquarters of one of the six local government areas within the senatorial district affected by the prolonged power outage, stated that no government would be comfortable seeing a large percentage of its population living their lives in darkness.
Akeredolu, who frowned over the issue, emphasized that his administration since inception has taken up the issue of public power supply to parts of the state with appropriate authorities.
“We have not relented on a day at putting this issue on the door steps of the concerned authorities, the Distribution Company, DISCO; Tansmission Company of Nigeria, TCN and Niger Delta Power Holding of Nigeria, NDPHN.
“We have met severally with the Distribution Company for our State, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC and have registered displeasure at the services.”
Akeredolu disclosed that Ondo State as well as other states being serviced by BEDC have threatened to pull out their shareholdings from the company.
He added that if achieved, the move will make BEDC act on the plight of the people and possibly look for a credible investor to service the affected states.
The governor also revealed that he has been mounting pressures on the Federal Government to enable the state have access to the Omotosho Power Plant and the state owned Independent Power Holding in Ore, both situated in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state in order to ease the power problem of the state.
While urging the people to be patient, Akeredolu said his administration has continued to employ some stop gap measures, like the construction of mini grids and solar power to ameliorate the lack of power supply
He, however regretted that the mini grids do not have the energy capacity to service cities like Okitipupa, stating the State Government would have provided for the town like it did in communities like Aboto, Ebute Ipare, Igbobini and Gbagira among others within the southern senatorial district.
