In its efforts to boost power supply to its teeming customers, Benin Electricity Distribution Company Plc, (BEDC), said it has successfully reconnected 42 communities within its franchise states of Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti states, which were hitherto without power supply to the national grid, as at end of November 2018.
A statement from BEDC explained that the notion that BEDC has not been responsive to community related issues was incorrect. It added that it will continue to partner with communities without electricity supply in addressing their challenges provided they follow the necessary steps for engagement.
Of the 42 communities, Delta state has 25 communities reconnected which included; Onicha Uku under Asaba business unit, Ovwodokpoko in Isoko, Ephiephphor in Otor Udu, Idama estate, Phase11 in Asaba and Ogbe-Ohu in Agbor. Others are; Ukpiovmu, Ughevnughe Oghior, Okirika and Otujeremi also under Otor Udu business unit.
In Asaba, Federal Housing Estate was reconnected, while Ewohimi was reconnected in Agbor also in Delta. Also reconnected were; Ugomson and Igbogiri both in Agbor area of Delta state.
In Edo state, 12 communities in Ikpoba Hill business, including ;(Ikhueniro 1&2), Idunowina, Idokpai also in Ikpoba hill, Ikomi in Uromi business unit, Ugbogui in Okada, Miracle Centre 2 under GRA, Benin and Evboligun in Sokponba area of Benin were also reconnected during the review period.
Ekiti state had two communities- Hausa Community in Shasha market area of Ado-Ekiti and Surulere staff school community also in Ado-Ekiti. All the reconnected communities had a customer population of about 20,000 with the highest coming from Ubulu-Uku in Asaba, Delta state which had a customer population of 4,907, followed by Ibusa 2 phase in Koka business unit, with a population of 4,704, while Issele-Uku also in Delta, and came third with a customer figure of 3,248. Famoyegun community in Owo, Ondo state had the least customer population of 9 customers hooked to a transformer.
Meanwhile, after five years, the residents of Igbokoda in Ilaje Ese-Odo Local Government in Ondo South Senatorial Zone, have finally been connected to the national grid. This came when the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo inaugurated the restored power project facilitated by the BEDC Electricity Plc and
Niger-Delta Power Holding Company, NDPHC that jointly completed the rehabilitation project in the state.
With this commissioning, 10 out of the 21 distribution substations in the Igbokoda community came on with power supply, thus illuminating the town which had been out of supply for so many years.
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