Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo Joins Residents in Protest Over Persistent Power Outages and BEDC Billing Practices

 In an unusual display of solidarity, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo stepped out on Monday to join hundreds of residents and youths protesting chronic electricity blackouts and what they describe as unfair billing by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

The demonstration occurred along the busy Ring Road in the heart of Benin City, drawing crowds frustrated by months of unreliable power supply that has hampered homes, small businesses, and daily life across the state. Protesters carried placards condemning estimated billing, the high cost of prepaid meters, and prolonged outages, chanting demands for accountability and better service from BEDC, the distribution company serving Edo and neighboring states.

What began as a citizen-led action quickly gained attention when the governor, reportedly passing nearby, stopped his convoy to engage with the crowd. Rather than dispersing the gathering, Okpebholo waded into the protesters, addressing them directly and expressing full alignment with their grievances.

“I was trying to find out what the issues are, and I was told that you all are protesting,” he told the demonstrators. “I said yes, we are all youth. Is that not so? Are we not? I have come to join you on the protest.” He emphasized that the challenges affect everyone from rural families to urban dwellers adding, “When we are talking about short-changing Edo people, it’s all of us. My father in the village, your mother in the village, my brother in the city all of us are standing here.”

The governor went further, vowing concrete steps to address the root causes. He pledged to break BEDC's monopoly on power distribution by attracting new investors, drawing parallels to the competitive model in telecommunications. “The only way we can fight this is to bring new investors into the business of distribution. We will break the monopoly,” Okpebholo declared. “So when that is done, all of us in the state will have enough light.”

He also announced plans for immediate stakeholder engagements, including meetings with BEDC officials, federal regulators, and potential investors, to push for reforms and improved supply.

The protest, organized under banners like “Mass Action Against BEDC Oppressions,” reflected deep-seated anger over what residents call “paying for darkness.” Many highlighted how erratic power has crippled economic activities, forced reliance on expensive generators, and inflated living costs through arbitrary charges.

Civil society voices amplified the message. Comrade Emmanuel Ogbidi, president of the Network of Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria (NOCSON), noted that Edo people are “tired of paying for darkness instead of light and over-billing by the BEDC.”

Okpebholo's participation has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters praised it as a bold, people-centered move by a leader willing to stand with citizens against corporate shortcomings. Critics, however, pointed to irony, recalling past political decisions including the discontinuation of an independent power project under the previous administration that some argue contributed to the current woes.

BEDC has yet to issue a formal response to the protest or the governor's statements, though the company has historically attributed supply issues to generation shortfalls, vandalism, and debts in the sector.

As Edo grapples with one of Nigeria's most persistent infrastructure challenges, Monday's events  deepen growing public pressure on both utility providers and political leaders. The governor's promise to liberalize distribution could signal a shift, but residents say they will hold officials accountable for tangible improvements in uptime and fair metering.

For the moment streets of Benin City have quieted, but information is passed, Edo's power crisis demands urgent, collective action. The coming weeks will tell whether this high-profile show of solidarity translates into real change for millions still waiting for steady light.