Asaba Residents Accuse BEDC, Transformer Committee of Abandoning Community Without Power

Residents of Fear God Street in Bonsaac, Asaba, Delta State, have accused the Benin Electricity Distribution Company and members of the community electricity committee of abandoning them without power after repeated failed attempts to repair their faulty transformer.

The residents alleged that they had contributed millions of naira for the repair and replacement of transformers in the area but remained without electricity months after the latest repair.

They also claimed that they were being asked to make fresh contributions towards the purchase of a new 750KVA transformer.

However, the Chairman of the Bonsaac 1 Transformer Committee, Michael Morah, denied collecting or diverting residents’ money, saying all contributions for the new transformer were being paid directly into the community’s bank account.

Morah said the transformer finally broke down on July 25 after several repair attempts and that the community contacted the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and other relevant authorities without receiving a response.

He said the community was therefore forced to raise funds for a replacement transformer, insisting that he was not extorting residents because the money was being paid into the community account.