Water scarcity hits Benin City following blackout

Most parts of Benin have been in darkness for over two weeks as a result of transmission breakdown occasioned by aging equipment of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

Areas worse hit are Ekenwan  Road, Agho street 2nd/3rd East Circular road, New Benin, and Ikhinmwin quarters of the state.

A city resident who gave her name as Mrs Joseph Itohan lamented that she could not carry out her business because of this lingering power cut in her neighbourhood.

Mrs Joseph said that in the last one week, the price of three 20 litres of jerry cans she usually buys for N20, each of them now goes for N30 and wondered how she could cope with the continuos hardship occasioned by the power outage that has paralyzed commercial activities for the past seven days.

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“Our problem now is light and water. Because of water, I could not cook to feed my children. The way the country is now I do not know if they want to change it. The poor are getting poorer while the rich are getting richer I do not know.

“One of the jerry can I fetched this morning was sold for N30 but before now, i was buying it for N10 or three for N20 and at times, we are given for free,” she said.

Also, expressing sadness over the power outage, a barbing saloon operator, Mr. Stephen Uwen said his business has been crumbled by BEDC.

“Close to a week now, we have not seen any power supply. We have been in darkness for the past one week now. So, we are not finding it easy. As you can see, business are now paralyzed.

“In short, crime is now on the high rate. Those doing small businesses can no longer pay their bills. As I am talking to you now, even the generator I am using for my own personal work, is down.

“In my own residential area, like the New Benin/Upper Lawani area, there is no light. The same situation I am passing through at my working play, Uwa at 2nd East Circular Road. I am not happy at all,” he lamented.

The Corporate Affairs Manager of the electricity, Mr Tayo Adekunle, said the company that the company is not relenting as it plans to reconnect the affected neighbourhoods where darkness is now the order of the day.

Adekunle assured: “We want to divert the load to areas that have light. You know, some of the facilities are aged and we are doing all that we can to fix them. The problem would be laid to rest within the week.”