Reps urge FG to intervene in disconnection of electricity supply in Ondo

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to intervene in the disconnection of electricity supply in some constituencies in Ondo State by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The House made the call after the members unanimously adopted a motion by Rep. Kolade Akinjo on the urgent need for government to intervene in the disconnection of power supply in parts of the state.
In the motion, Akinjo had observed that successive governments in the country had made efforts to reform the power sector with the aim of improving supply to Nigerians.
He, however, said that in spite of the huge expenditure on the reform, households in the country still grappled with blackout daily.
According to him, affected people in Ondo State are from Ilaje/Eseodo, Okitipupa/Irele and Odigbo/Ile-Oluji-Okeigbo Federal Constituencies in Ondo South Senatorial District.
He said that the area had been without power supply for the past 15 months.
Akinjo said that the blackout followed the disconnection “without tenable explanation by BEDC’’, “which has brought hardships on the inhabitants of the area and paralysed all commercial activities”.
He said the situation had left the people with no choice but to resort to buying petrol at exorbitant prices to power their generators.
He stressed that the development had also created serious security challenges, adding that crime rate had increased.
In its resolution, the house presided by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, said that it Committee on Power, when constituted, would interface with BEDC and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission on the issue.
It said that the committee would also find out why the company still demanded payment of electricity bills for the period it did not supply power to the people.