Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, on Monday, joined protesting youths and residents at Ring Road in Benin City over persistent electricity outages and billing concerns linked to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), pledging swift stakeholder engagement and reforms aimed at liberalising power distribution in the State.
The protest, which drew scores of residents to the busy Ring Road corridor in the heart of Benin City, highlighted growing frustrations over estimated billing, prolonged blackouts and the rising cost of prepaid meters.
Addressing demonstrators, Governor Okpebholo said electricity challenges affect every segment of Edo society and declared solidarity with the protesters.
“I was just passing by and saw people gathered here at Ring Road. I stopped to find out what the issue was, and they said you were protesting. I said, yes, we are all youths, and I have come to join you,” the governor said.
He noted that any form of short-changing residents in electricity supply reverberates across households and businesses alike.
“When we talk about short-changing Edo people, it affects all of us — our parents in the villages, our brothers and sisters in the cities, and everyone standing here. Why should anyone frustrate Edo people?” he asked.
Governor Okpebholo clarified that BEDC is a privately- owned electricity distribution company and not directly under the control of the Edo State Government. He, however, signalled the administration’s readiness to exploring structural solutions.
The only way we can fight this is to bring new investors into the business of distribution. We will break the monopoly. We want to operate like the telecom sector where you have alternatives,” he said. “Bringing in more investors will give our people options.”
Industry analysts say introducing additional distribution players within the existing regulatory framework could require coordination with federal authorities and sector regulators, given the current licensing structure of Nigeria’s power market.
“We need to engage them to see how we can bring in more investors into the business of electricity distribution. Once that is done, we will all be more assured of stable power. Let us remain calm and allow the engagement to take place,” he appealed.
Protesters carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “We say no to BEDC oppression,” “No light, no bill,” and “Edo people say no to bulk billing,” underscoring grievances over estimated charges and what they described as opaque metering processes.
Ogbidi Emmanuel, who spoke on behalf of the group, alleged that residents were being compelled to pay high fees for meters, reportedly ranging between ₦150,000 and ₦400,000, despite claims of free distribution schemes.
