EDOSCO Peddles Lies, Misinforms The Public – BEDC
By Joseph Kanjo
The Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has described Edo Civil Society Organisation (EDOSCO) as an organisation its activities are based on peddling false information and misinforming members of the public.
BEDC, speaking through its Executive Director commercial, Mr. Ejoor, at the launching of Edo State Meter Asset Provider (MAP) in Benin City, said the claim by EDOSCO that the company’s license is going to expire December 2019 was false and unfounded, saying “There is no expiration of the license of BEDC as alleged.”
Reacting to EDOSCO’s planned protest against Federal Government purported plan in renewing BEDC license, starting from October 1st 2019, Mr. Ejoor condemned in its entirety the planned protest by the Civil Society Organisation.
“We strongly condemn the planned protest in its entirety and see it as a disturbance of public peace by EDOSCO, an organisation peddling misinformation.
“Please recall that the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), the Federal Government agency that midwifed the privatisation exercise at a press briefing in Benin last year, declared that there was no ongoing license renewal for any of the 11 distribution companies.
“Indeed, the license issued to BEDC and the other discos is 15years, with a renewal extension of another 10 years, after the expiry of same Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which handles all matters relating to licensing, duly recognises BEDC as the electricity provider for Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.”
Commenting further on EDOSCO activities against BEDC peaceful operations and others, the Executive Director said the company is in court with the civil society organisation on two cases rising from alleged tamper with electrical fittings and a request to restrain EDOSCO members from occupying the company’s premises.
“We are presently in court with them on two cases. BEDC took some some suspects including EDOSCO members to court in March 2017 at Benin Federal High Court for allegedly tampering with electrical fittings a crime punishable under section 3 (6) of the miscellaneous Offenses Act cap M.17 Laws of Nigeria 2004.
“The case which is pending at the High Court in Benin is the one BEDC is seeking to restraint EDOSCO members from ocuppying BEDC business premises, at the head office, business units or service unit in Edo State and disrupting business or operations or vandalizing equipment or facilities under the guise of protest”, he said.
Accepting that EDOSCO has right to protest, Mr. Ejoor said “such should be done within reasonable confines.”
Effort to reach the coordinator of EDOSCO, Mr. Agho Omobude was aborted as calls put across to him were not clear due to poor signals, while there was no response to the text message sent to him.
It would be recalled that EDOSCO had informed the general public that it was going to commence a peaceful protest titled ‘BEDC must go’ starting from October 1st, 2019.
EDOSCO planned protest is a bid up to Federal Government purported plan to renew the license of the distribution company which according to EDOSCO expires December 2019.
