Inside Edo
Edo Community braces for massive protests over years of blackout
Written By: Emmanuel Ikhenebome
26 Jul 2025 05:41 PM
Abudu, Edo – Concerned indigenes of Orhionmwon local government area of Edo state, under the aegis of 'Pioneers Of Abudu Light Restoration' are gearing up for large-scale protests as frustration boils over years of blackout.
The growing frustration has pushed the indigenes to the brink, with them demanding urgent action from the state government to address the crippling electricity crisis that has adversely affected socio economic activities in the once bustling local government (headquarters) despite hosting one of Nigeria's largest gas deposits.
The current movement however appears to be gaining momentum following a meeting last Tuesday, where the indigenes resolved to review the electricity situation and as well, explore available options before hitting the streets for a peaceful demonstration "in the second week of August 2025" to drive home their demands.
According to a communique issued after the meeting sighted by this online newspaper; "The meeting resolved to embark on a peaceful protest as a means of drawing the attention of the government and relevant authorities to the ongoing hardship caused by the blackout."
While they acknowledged the power sector privatisation, they maintained that the affected communities deserve electricity to improve their livelihood and contribute meaningfully to the nation's economy, hence the call for urgent intervention to assist the people as they cannot afford the huge funds needed to fix the electricity problem.
Recall in March 2024, BENDEL Mirror reported that the state's representative in the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon Patrick Aisowieren revealed that there is a financial appropriation in the 2024 NDDC budget to address the Abudu electricity problem.
The former House of Reps member confirmed that the appropriated funds, which a source claimed is estimated at N250,000,000, were yet to be approved for the electricity project to commence.
"We only put it in the budget; the 2024 budget, so the senate and the house of representatives have not passed the budget, and until we advertise for jobs, before I can authoritatively speak on the matter", Aisowieren told this journalist in a telephone chat at the time
The source further said the funds were earmarked to procure a new stepdown transformer to replace the one at the Oghada community; service, or replace faulty transformers and other equipment where necessary, and also, pay off outstanding electricity bills owed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) by the affected communities.
The growing frustration has pushed the indigenes to the brink, with them demanding urgent action from the state government to address the crippling electricity crisis that has adversely affected socio economic activities in the once bustling local government (headquarters) despite hosting one of Nigeria's largest gas deposits.
The current movement however appears to be gaining momentum following a meeting last Tuesday, where the indigenes resolved to review the electricity situation and as well, explore available options before hitting the streets for a peaceful demonstration "in the second week of August 2025" to drive home their demands.
According to a communique issued after the meeting sighted by this online newspaper; "The meeting resolved to embark on a peaceful protest as a means of drawing the attention of the government and relevant authorities to the ongoing hardship caused by the blackout."
While they acknowledged the power sector privatisation, they maintained that the affected communities deserve electricity to improve their livelihood and contribute meaningfully to the nation's economy, hence the call for urgent intervention to assist the people as they cannot afford the huge funds needed to fix the electricity problem.
Recall in March 2024, BENDEL Mirror reported that the state's representative in the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Hon Patrick Aisowieren revealed that there is a financial appropriation in the 2024 NDDC budget to address the Abudu electricity problem.
The former House of Reps member confirmed that the appropriated funds, which a source claimed is estimated at N250,000,000, were yet to be approved for the electricity project to commence.
"We only put it in the budget; the 2024 budget, so the senate and the house of representatives have not passed the budget, and until we advertise for jobs, before I can authoritatively speak on the matter", Aisowieren told this journalist in a telephone chat at the time
The source further said the funds were earmarked to procure a new stepdown transformer to replace the one at the Oghada community; service, or replace faulty transformers and other equipment where necessary, and also, pay off outstanding electricity bills owed the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) by the affected communities.
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