CDHR storms BEDC Warri office, gives 14-day ultimatum over illegal light committees

CDHR storms BEDC Warri office, gives 14-day ultimatum over illegal light committees

Human rights group demands town hall meetings across Delta, uniform billing, end to alleged customer extortion

By Ezekiel Kagbala

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Delta State Branch, has given the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) 14 days to convene town hall meetings across its operational units in Delta State and address alleged violations of electricity consumers’ rights.

The human rights organisation issued the ultimatum during a visit to BEDC’s Warri Regional Office on Tuesday, where it demanded the immediate dissolution of alleged illegal community electricity committees accused of exploiting consumers and obstructing direct engagement between customers and the distribution company.

The delegation, led by the Delta State Chairman of CDHR, Comrade Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, alongside the State Publicity Secretary, Comrade Nosa Overseey, said the intervention was aimed at protecting electricity consumers from alleged extortion, unfair billing and other practices inconsistent with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) customer protection regulations.

Receiving the delegation, BEDC’s Warri Regional Head, Mr Curtis Nwadei, was told that consumers should not be forced to endure questionable charges or depend on unofficial community structures to access services from the electricity distribution company.

“Light is a right, not a privilege. Consumers deserve dignity, transparency, and accountability,” Agberen said.

CDHR acknowledged BEDC’s efforts to improve electricity distribution in parts of Delta State, including the introduction of service bands. However, the group said its findings from years of monitoring raised serious concerns about the treatment of consumers and the enforcement of their rights.

Among the issues highlighted were alleged metering irregularities, estimated billing disputes, overbilling, mounting customer debts, vandalism, negligence, delayed repairs and disparities in electricity tariffs and service delivery across communities.

The organisation also expressed concern over the activities of what it described as illegal “light committees,” alleging that some of the structures had become intermediaries between consumers and BEDC, limiting direct access to management and creating opportunities for exploitation.

CDHR consequently demanded the immediate dissolution of all illegal electricity committees and called for appropriate investigations and prosecution of individuals found culpable under the law.

The group further insisted that BEDC must take responsibility for the repair and replacement of damaged transformers, electricity poles and cables in accordance with applicable regulations and the responsibilities of the relevant parties.

It also called for uniform, transparent and regulation-compliant billing, urging the company to address complaints over disputed charges, metering and service disparities.

A major demand was the immediate organisation of town hall meetings across BEDC’s operational units and branches in Delta State, bringing together electricity consumers, community leaders, civil society organisations and company officials to resolve persistent complaints.

CDHR said the meetings must provide a direct channel for consumers to engage BEDC management without interference from unofficial or allegedly corrupt intermediaries.

The organisation warned that failure to comply with the 14-day ultimatum would trigger a massive but peaceful protest across Delta State to press for the protection of electricity consumers’ rights.

Responding, Nwadei thanked the delegation for the engagement and pledged that BEDC would operate in line with NERC’s customer protection regulations.

He also promised that staff found engaging in questionable practices inconsistent with the company’s standards would face disciplinary action.

The regional head further agreed to initiate town hall meetings through the relevant business managers serving the nine local government areas under the Warri Region.

CDHR said it would monitor BEDC’s response and assess compliance with the demands, stressing that electricity consumers must be treated fairly and given direct access to the company’s management.

The organisation maintained that the proposed engagement must translate into concrete action, particularly on billing disputes, infrastructure repairs, service delivery and the activities of community electricity committees.