Benin City – A coalition of electricity consumers under the banner “End BEDC Opressions Now” has issued a strong rebuke to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) after the company’s Public Relations Officer, Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, said BEDC “is not a charity organisation.” The group’s response follows a press conference on 16 February 2026 in which consumers gave BEDC a 14‑day ultimatum to fix power supply problems, end high‑handed operations and stop alleged extortion of Edo residents.
In a statement signed by the convener, Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi, the group stressed that Edo people “are neither beggars nor father Christmas” and will not continue to pay for services they do not receive. “It has come to our attention the response of the PRO of BEDC, Mrs Evelyn Gbiwen, in responding to some media houses after the world Press Conference by Edo people on Monday 16/02/2026 where we issued a 14 days ultimatum to them to resolve issues of electricity supplies and high handedness in their operations in extorting Edo people,” the statement read.
Ogbidi added, “In her response, she posited that BEDC is not a charity organisation. Agreed. But the big question is, are Edo people asking for free services from BEDC? Has BEDC ever done anything for free in Edo state? Has BEDC ever embarked on any corporate social responsibility that is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf in Edo? So, it speaks volume of how BEDC has reduced/relegated Edo people as though we are beggars at their mercy. But dear BEDC, Edo people are not beggars. We are not conquered people, and we are not also father Christmas who will continue to pay for services not rendered. You cannot continue to milk Edo people dry in a bid to satisfy your insatiable appetite for profits through dubious means of bullying, intimidation cum extortions.”
The group urged BEDC to “wake up to your responsibilities of providing power for Edo people, connect communities whom you have thrown into utter darkness, meter Edo people with the speed of light because sooner than ever, nobody will pay you estimated bills anymore.”
The ultimatum, issued on 16 February, demands that BEDC restore electricity to communities in darkness, stop forcing communities to purchase and donate equipment before connection, and meter customers free of charge, with a published list of beneficiaries for accountability ¹ ².
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