Provide Meters to ensure Fair Billing in Ekiti State...... Aluko Charges BEDC

 

By Funke Oyerinde

Ekiti State Government has charged the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to, as a matter of urgency; address the prevalent power outages in many communities in the State, and the general poor delivery of electricity statewide.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko gave the charge in Ado Ekiti during a meeting with the management of the Electricity company on how to improve power supply in the State.

Aluko noted that electricity power supply to Ekiti State is grossly inadequate considering the population of the state, stressing the need for a remarkable increase, expansion and a better service to the region.

He highlighted efforts by the State Government to improve electricity supply to the State to include private partnership in the construction of a 5-Megawatt Independent Power project (IPP) initiated by the immediate past administration under Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Reiterating the commitment of the present administration, Aluko said that Governor Biodun Oyebanji would leave no stone unturned towards improving electric power supply to the State, adding that the IPP would soon become operational and boost power generation in the State.

He however stressed the need for the provision of meters to ensure fair billing in the State, adding that proper investigation should be conducted on what happened to the 8,000 meters announced by the Federal Government to have been given to the State during the Covid-19 lock-down.

He also seek for the collaboration from BEDC to look for ways of partnering the Government on how the remainder of power that would be produced from the IPP would be sold to willing private individuals and corporate organization in the state to serve as an additional  power to boost its own traditional and insufficient power supply.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Engineer. Olumide Ajayi listed communities without electricity power supply to include Iyemero, Ikogosi, Omuo, and parts of Ayekire Local Government Area/Gbonyin LCDA, and re-emphasized the determination of the state government towards working to putting an end  to erratic power supply in the state.

In his response, the Regional Head of BEDC, Mr Sunday Ofiebor informed the state of the re-organization of BEDC in Ekiti State from a geographical into a region of its own.

He promised to ensure improved power supply, adding that efforts were being put in place to serve Ekiti people very well.

He however emphasized the importance of prompt payment of bills by consumers, adding that failure to pay bills is inimical to efforts at improving electricity supply to the people.