Residents of Ginuwa area, Warri/Sapele road in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State are groaning over lack of electricity and the request by officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) for each household to pay N26, 000 to make up N1.5 million to fix their faulty transformer.
The faulty transformer, nicknamed ‘Toronto,’ reportedly went bad early August, throwing the entire area into darkness and crashing power-dependent commercial activities in the area.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that a committee in charge of the collection of the levy had nominated a leader from each compound to persuade residents to contribute the N26,000 for the repair of the transformer own by BEDC.
In a statement signed, but without names by chairman, secretary and public relations officer of the committee, residents were enjoined to remit the payment before August 30
“Dear Sir/Madam, this is to inform the compound based on the meeting that was held on August 11, at Omas Hotel by Ginuwa community, concerning the Toronto transformer, that each compound is to pay the sum of N26,000 before August 30.
“Please, do not be an obstacle for (sic) the progress of the light. Irrespective (sic) of this, the compound, hotels and schools, should please, nominate a delegate that will be collecting the money.
“Delegate name, phone number and address should be submitted August 17. If available, please call:……,” the undated statement read.
Meanwhile, a call put to one of the numbers attached to the statement, was responded to by one Murphy, who identified himself as the chairman of the committee.
According to him, each household is to pay N18,500 to arrive at N1 million and not N26,000 as told by some tenants in one of the houses at Ginuwa, adding that August 30 is the deadline for collection.
When asked what was identified as faulty in the transformer, he said the BEDC officials told them the coils were bad, adding that the BEDC officials had carried the transformer to their office on Warri/Sapele road already waiting for the money before commencing repairs.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of BEDC, Warri branch, Mrs Helen Ogagare, could not be reached several times on her mobile line, as it was said to be switched off, just as messages sent to her line were not responded as of the time of filing the report.
But the Business Manager, BEDC, Warri branch, Mr Ikechukwu Onuoha, while reacting to an earlier similar incident recently, told Nigerian Tribune that it was illegal for BEDC officials to demand money to fix faulty transformer, describing it as criminal.
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