17th August, 2015
Kayode Fakuyi
I wish to bring to your attention the unfortunate and unlawful activities of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, which have led to perpetual blackout and paralysed economic activities in the entire Ondo-South Senatorial District of Ondo State.
My heart bleeds as I make this passionate and patriotic appeal to you as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the people’s hope to halt the era of unending darkness. Some of the communities have been subjected to two years of blackout in Ondo-South.
Distinguished, this unfortunate situation was foisted on Ondo-South by BEDC with its unlawful activities of systemic disconnection of many communities from the national grid due to questionable claims of huge outstanding debt.
Many of the communities have experienced blackout for over one year while some areas have been subjected to over two years of darkness. The entire six local governments in Ondo-South namely Okitipupa, Odigbo, Irele, Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Okeigbo are gravely affected.
The BEDC claimed that its unlawful action was necessitated due to huge unpaid and outstanding debts. The BEDC also claimed that this unlawful action was largely due to the vandalisation of its infrastructure by alleged miscreants.
Distinguished, permit me to emphasise that the claims of huge outstanding debt and unpaid electricity bills are questionable, unrealistic and largely unconfirmed.
I wish to note that the questionable claim of outstanding debt is tied to pre-privatisation era and the regime of fixed charges even with epileptic power supply and weeks of no power supply.
However, most residents and communities have dismissed any indebtedness on electricity bills as they claimed the defunct PHCN was duly paid all charges.
I also wish to state that the claim of vandalisation of power infrastructure by miscreants is unconfirmed and therefore considered as untrue. Meanwhile, I know that the supposed miscreants, if they truly exist, also desire to enjoy stable power supply.
Distinguished, permit me to state without equivocation that the action of BEDC to disconnect Ondo-South from the national grid is unlawful and it amounts to deployment of powers BEDC do not have de jure and ab initio. While it is traditional for DISCOs to disconnect power supply from homes of debtors, it is alien to our country for DISCOs to disconnect power supply from entire LGAs and senatorial district. It is impossible and unrealistic for all households in the local government to be indebted to DISCO.
Having gone through the relevant sections of the Power Reform Act, there is no proviso that empowers BEDC to disconnect communities from national grid. Even if there are genuine claims of outstanding debts, BEDC is not empowered by any law to disconnect communities. But unfortunately, the same BEDC has disconnected Ondo-South due to questionable and frivolous claims.
Distinguished, you may wish to note that this same senatorial district that has been subjected to two years uninterrupted darkness is the home to the Omotosho phase II Nigeria Integrated Power Plant that is suppose to generate 530megawatts. The NIPP was commissioned by the last administration. It was after the commissioning of the NIPP that you rightly said that across the country, the power plants were not working because of unavailability of gas supply to fuel them to generate power.
Now that the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has provided conducive environment for the availability of gas to fuel power plants which has led to a general improvement in the stability of electricity across the country, OndoISouth is still subjected to unending blackout by BEDC.
It should be stated that the NIPP project appears to be more of a misfortune than blessing to Ondo-South. What an irony!
Distinguished, you may wish to note that BEDC has a history of lawlessness and impunity. The same BEDC was in the news recently for the reported disconnection of Edo State Police Command from power supply. The same BEDC was protested against by monarchs and youths in Ekiti State recently.
Distinguished, I wish to state that throughout this period of the blackout, the traditional institutions and youth groups have consistently engaged the BEDC with the hope of reaching an amiable accord to end the reign of darkness in Ondo South.
However, it appears that BEDC is rigid on illegality and lawlessness. We have also engaged related state government ministries, agencies and boards. Unfortunately, the engagements have not led to power supply in Ondo-South.
We have also engaged the National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) whose responsibility is it to, among others, license and regulate persons and companies engaged in the generation, transmission, system operation distribution and trading of electricity.
I suspect a form of satanic collabo between the regulator and the BEDC.
Distinguished, one can not but mention your intervention in #SaveBaga, and the saved the lives of thousands of Nigerians from lead poison in Zamfara State. Also, your patriotic intervention in the environmental degradation and oil spillage that have ravaged the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria is also note-worthy.
The above stated interventions further strengthened my conviction and I am most assured that as a detribalised leader, you will use your good office as the Senate President to defend and advance the lawful interests of Nigerians irrespective of religion and tribe. And in particular, to end the unending blackout in Ondo South.
Distinguished, you may wish to know that this passionate appeal is tied with the collective aspirations of over 1million Nigerians in/from Ondo South senatorial district of Ondo State. And I have reliably gathered that other parts Ondo State may soon be subjected to the Ondo South experience by BEDC.
Distinguished, your intervention is most required urgently to forestall a situation whereby an army of aggrieved and frustrated youths would take up laws into their hands. Two years of uninterrupted blackout is no joke and I must confess that youths have grown out of patience, hence, the urgency of your intervention.
Distinguished, I wish to refer you to your recent comment on the issue of power in Nigeria. You said: “we thought that with the Power Reform Act and unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), we will begin to see a relief with regard to power supply; unfortunately it is not so.” Like you rightly noted, it is quite unfortunate.
The Ondo-South experience is worse because, even without insecurity or civil war, it is one experience of total blackout for years.
Distinguished, I also wish to refer you to the recent Senate order on abolition of fixed electricity charges.
The Nigerian Senate under your leadership directed the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, to abolish the monthly fixed charges being collected from electricity consumers by the distribution companies.
Distinguished, I appeal that you engage and direct NERC to immediately intervene on issues of questionable outstanding debts in order to quickly reach an amiable resolution between BEDC and the people of Ondo-South.
Distinguished, I appeal that you engage the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company , BEDC, and direct the immediate reconnection of Ondo-South to the national grid.
Ondo-South genuinely expects your swift intervention, our Distinguished Senate President.
You can contact Kayode via email: [email protected]