Edo Assembly gives BEDC 4-month ultimatum to improve power supply

BENIN CITY—The Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, has issued a four-month ultimatum to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to urgently improve power supply across Edo State, amid growing public anger over persistent electricity shortages.

Agbebaku handed down the directive when the management of the power distribution company appeared before the House to respond to complaints over the worsening and unreliable electricity supply affecting residents and businesses across the state.

The Speaker warned that the current state of power delivery was unacceptable, noting that citizens were increasingly dissatisfied with the company’s performance.

He urged BEDC to take immediate and practical steps to stabilise and improve distribution, cautioning that failure to act could trigger widespread public protests.

He stressed that the House would not hesitate to take further action if the situation does not improve within the stipulated timeframe, insisting that electricity supply remains critical to economic growth, small business survival, and household welfare across Edo State.

In his response, the Commercial Officer and leader of the BEDC delegation, Mr Akinyele Ogunleye, attributed the poor electricity supply to a significant drop in allocation from the national grid.

He explained that the company currently receives less than 300 megawatts to serve the four states under its franchise, a situation he said has severely constrained distribution capacity and service delivery.

Meanwhile, in a separate legislative decision during plenary, the House confirmed Mr Charles Omonayo as Executive Director, Projects, of the Edo State Ecological Fund and Management Commission.