The Minority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Barr. Charity Aiguobarueghian, has criticised the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) over what he described as unfair charges imposed on communities benefiting from electricity projects.
Aiguobarueghian, who represents Ovia North-East Constituency I, alleged that residents are being asked to pay additional fees before being connected to transformers already provided through constituency interventions.
He made the allegation while receiving members of Otuedo N’ Ogbenbe (Benin Journalists Forum) during a courtesy visit, where he also commended the group for its role in promoting development in Edo South Senatorial District.
The lawmaker cited Evbuomore community as an example, noting that residents experienced prolonged power outage due to a faulty transformer before he facilitated the provision of a replacement.
However, he alleged that BEDC declined to energise the new transformer unless the community paid between ₦3 million and ₦4 million.
He also disclosed that in another community, a newly installed transformer had remained unused for an extended period, leaving residents without electricity despite the available infrastructure.
“I intervened by providing a transformer, and the same people (BEDC) I are trying to help are now asking me to pay millions before communities would be connected. This is the anomaly we must address,” he said.
The Minority Leader warned that such practices worsen the hardship faced by residents and defeat the purpose of government efforts aimed at improving living conditions.
He called on relevant authorities to investigate the operations of the electricity distribution company and ensure accountability in service delivery.
Earlier, the Convener of Otuedo N’ Ogbenbe, Comrade Edosa Okunbo, commended the lawmaker for what he described as effective representation.
