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Residents protest bill to protect BEDC assets in Edo
A coalition of civil groups on Thursday protested against a bill for a law to provide for electricity theft and other related offences, currently under consideration at the Edo State House of Assembly.
The bill titled ‘Electricity Theft Offence’, prescribes a special court for electricity consumers in the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) who bypass and engage in illegal connection.
The protesters, in black attires carried placards with different inscriptions, pelted the Assembly complex with tomatoes and oranges before heading to Government House.
Read also: OIL WELL FIRE: Ondo communities demand $2.5bn compensation from Chevron
However, both the Assembly Speaker, Kabiru Adjoto and Governor Godwin Obaseki ignored the protesters as they failed to address them.
The leader of the group Agho Omobude vowed to resist the bill, insisting that it was anti-people and advised Obaseki not to sign into law.
“The issue of estimated billings, poor services and provision of metres must be addressed before any other issue.
“Edo people should not be seen to be doing the bidding of BEDC.
“This law is anti-people and must be rejected. BEDC is out to exploit Edo people and must be resisted,” Omobude said.
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