The Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has appealed to the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), to restore electricity to the University town of Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Ekpoma and environs have been in complete blackout for the past three months, after it was disconnection from the national grid by the BEDC, following a misunderstanding between the distribution company and some electricity consumers and stakeholders.
The AAU chapter of ASUU, in a statement signed by Dr. Monday Igbafen and Dr. Anthony Aizebioje-Coker (Chairman and Secretary respectively), while expressing concern over the development, called on BEDC to quickly resolve the crisis and restore electricity to the town.
The union expressed worries over the hardline position of the BEDC, despite series of peaceful intervention by some prominent persons in Ekpoma, including the Onojie of Ekpoma.
It urged the BEDC to use the opportunity of the intervention of the Standing Committee on Energy and Water Resources of the Edo State House Assembly, to resolve the crisis and re-establish a cordial social and business relationship with customers of electricity in Ekpoma and environs.
This is even as it warned that further delay in the restoration of electricity to the affected places could escalate the crisis and put the BEDC on record as an insensitive organization, lacking in social responsibility.
“ASUU, AAU Ekpoma, wishes to state that the continuous deliberate cut of electricity supply to Ekpoma has not only disrupted socio-economic life of the people, it is hampering the smooth conduct of academic activities in the university.
“It has also heightened the problem of insecurity in the area and the general living condition of our members in and outside the university.
“While expressing concern over the development, ASUU, AAU Ekpoma, calls on BEDC to quickly see to the resolution of the crisis and restore the confidence of consumers of electricity by restoring electricity supply in earnest,” the statement said.
