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.
The Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya described the electricity situation in Sapele as unbearable and oppressive.
Igbuya who spoke at length on the recent protest in Sapele, the drop in electricity supply in the country and its effects on people and organizations during a special stake holders meeting to proffer solutions to the worsening electricity situation in Sapele protested the failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide uninterrupted power supply in Sapele.
He also 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.
Igbuya 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.
The Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Monday Igbuya, Chairman , House Committee on Power, Rt. Hon Peter Onwusanya, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Power and Energy, Hon Evance Ivwurie, Honourable Commissioner of Power, Barrister Newworld Sofugha, the chairman of Sapele Local Government Area, Hon Ejaife Odebala, representatives of Sapele, Eurafric, Sapele, National Independent Power Plant, Ogorode, Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Nigeria Gas Company, Ekpan, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sapele and others attended the meeting.
Via Henry Ovie Ebireri
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