The tension created by epileptic power supply in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area has been condemned by the Uromi Community Association of Nigeria, UCAN
The National President UCAN, Chief Patrick Okhifo, JP, ksm in a paper titled, Save Uromi from Perpetual Darkness, presented to officials of Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC during a meeting in Benin City, stated that the people are not prepared to continue to pay for darkness any longer.
According to him, “our people have threatened to take the streets but we are begging them. We have come to express our disappointment over the unacceptable power supply situation in Uromi and its environs.
“Uromi is the commercial nerve center of Esan land and the established Business Unit of BEDC is domiciled there. We sincerely and urgently request answers to the following pertinent questions.
“Why has Uromi Community been left to wallow in darkness for so long by BEDC, even as a host community to the BEDC Business Unit. What is the rationale in placing Uromi on Bands D and E in your system of light schedule, even with the presence of so many Hotels, Banks, Hospitals and a host of other economy boosting business outfits and fast developing residential areas. These business outfits are dying fast due to the difficulty in running them without reliable and affordable electricity.
“Why has the BEDC regional office called Auchi / Uromi regional office been failing in the maintenance of infrastructure it met on ground with materials never available in your stores thereby pushing supplies of materials and maintenance on the community.
“Why is it that it is only when it is time to distribute electricity bills and collect money that the community is remembered by BEDC making us to pay for services not rendered.
“Why is Uromi Business Unit charging exorbitant fees far higher than what obtains in other places for the few meters they are willing to give out and what is the criteria used by BEDC to place some other towns under more improved electricity supply that are not available in Uromi?
While noting that the issues highlighted should be given the urgent attention they deserve, the UCAN President disclosed that for Power supply to be stable in Uromi the 33kv line from Irrua Transmission Station to Uromi with its breaker should be seperated from the existing Ubiaja feeder line to stop business from shutting down.
The Chief Cmmercial officer,BEDC Mr Akinleye Ogunleye who represented the Managing Director commended Uromi people for their cooperation noted that their constraints for giving energy to customers is due to the low allocation given to them and they acknowledged the fact that the rate of vandalization in Uromi is high because there is no light in the community.
While urging the people to exercise patience with BEDC, he said efforts are being made to draw a line to Uromi to improve the electricity situation in the community.
Also present during the meeting are the BEDC Chief Technical officer, Engr Kingsley Atseyinku, and the UCAN National General Secretary, Dcn Satty-Bee Ezewele, the President, Uromi Peoples Movement,UPM Mr Andrew Oiboh, the immediate past President UPM, Engr. Victor Okoduwa and Eubaldus Enahoro, Secretary General, UPM