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By Chukwudi Abiandu

Residents of Asaba and surrounding communities in Delta State have launched a blistering attack on the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company  (BEDC) over what they describe as “prolonged darkness, institutional silence, and exploitative billing practices” that have left the state capital crippled for more than three weeks.

In an open letter dated and signed by public affairs practitioner Godfrey C. Osakwe, fnipr, on behalf of concerned residents, BEDC was accused of gross inefficiency, poor communication, and alleged insensitivity to the economic and social hardship being inflicted on thousands of households and businesses across Asaba and its environs.

The letter decried what it called either a total blackout or “epileptic supply so erratic it can hardly be described as service delivery,” stressing that electricity is a basic necessity, not a privilege. According to the residents, the situation has persisted for over three weeks without any official explanation from BEDC, a silence they described as unacceptable in an age of instant communication.

More damning are allegations that, despite the prolonged outage, BEDC continues to issue estimated electricity bills to customers, including those who reportedly receive little or no power supply. The letter alleged that some field officers insist on “arbitrary and unrealistic payment demands,” threatening disconnection for customers who challenge the figures, particularly those without prepaid meters.

“This practice, if true, is not only insensitive but unjust,” the letter stated, questioning the moral and regulatory basis for billing consumers for services not rendered.

The residents demanded urgent answers from BEDC, including a comprehensive explanation for the outage, concrete steps being taken to restore stable power, and a clear timeline for resolution. They also called for the immediate suspension of estimated billing in affected areas, sanctions against any staff involved in coercive billing practices, and accelerated metering to end what they described as the “persistent controversy” around estimated billing.

Beyond BEDC, the letter called on regulatory authorities, especially the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to urgently intervene, investigate the situation, and protect consumer rights.

“The economic and social toll is enormous,” the residents warned, citing collapsing businesses overwhelmed by generator costs, families burdened by rising living expenses, students forced to study in darkness, and hospitals and small-scale industries struggling to function.

While insisting the letter was written out of civic responsibility rather than hostility, the residents issued a clear warning: public patience is wearing thin.

“Asaba deserves better. Delta State deserves better. Nigerians deserve better,” the letter concluded, urging BEDC to break its silence and act responsibly.

As of the time of filing this report, BEDC had not issued any official response to the allegations.

The Open letter reads in full:

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MANAGEMENT OF BENIN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY (BEDC)

INEFFICIENCY TAKEN TOO FAR IN ASABA AND ENVIRONS

I write on behalf of the concerned residents of Asaba and its environs in Delta State, compelled by the prolonged darkness that has engulfed our communities for over three weeks, and by the near silence from your office regarding the cause of this unacceptable situation.

Electricity is not a luxury. It is a necessity – a fundamental service that powers homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and livelihoods. Yet, for weeks, thousands of families and entrepreneurs in Asaba have been subjected to either total blackout or epileptic supply so erratic it can hardly be described as service delivery.

What makes this situation more troubling is not just the outage, but the absence of clear, timely, and transparent communication from BEDC. In an era where information travels instantly, how can a distribution company fail to officially brief its customers on the reasons for sustained darkness?

Even more concerning are reports that, despite weeks of poor or non-existent supply, estimated electricity bills continue to be issued. Some field officers allegedly insist on arbitrary and unrealistic payment demands, threatening disconnection for customers who question the figures, particularly those without prepaid meters.

This practice, if true, is not only insensitive but unjust.

We ask:

On what moral or regulatory basis are consumers billed for services not rendered?

Why has there been no comprehensive public explanation for the prolonged outage?

What concrete steps are being taken to restore stable electricity to Asaba and neighbouring communities?

What timeline can residents reasonably expect for resolution?

The people of Asaba are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for accountability, transparency, and responsible service delivery. BEDC willingly undertook the mandate to distribute electricity within this region. With that mandate comes an obligation to deliver quality services, to communicate honestly and perform competently.

Accordingly, I call on the regulatory authorities, including the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to urgently investigate the situation and ensure that consumer rights are protected. Silence in the face of prolonged inefficiency only deepens public distrust in institutions.

This letter is not written out of hostility but out of civic responsibility. Businesses are collapsing under the weight of generator costs. Families are burdened with increased living expenses. Students are studying in darkness. Hospitals and small-scale industries are struggling to survive. The economic and social toll is enormous.

I urge BEDC to:

1. Issue an immediate public statement explaining the cause of the outage.
2. Provide a clear restoration timeline.
3. Suspend estimated billing for affected areas during the outage period.
4. Sanction any staff engaging in coercive or unethical billing practices.
5. Accelerate the metering of customers to eliminate the persistent controversy around estimated billing.

The patience of the people is not infinite. But neither is their commitment to constructive engagement in doubt. Nigerians believe in dialogue and in institutional reform. And I believe that service providers must be held to the standards they promised.

Asaba deserves better. Delta State deserves better. Nigerians deserve better.

The good people of Asaba and its inhabitants await your prompt and responsible response.

Sincerely,
Godfrey C. Osakwe, fnipr
For Concerned Residents of Asaba and Environs