By Nosa Akenzua
Delta state government may soon sign a bill into law to unbundle the monopoly that is currently being enjoyed by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, in the state through Public-Private-Partnership, PPP, arrangement.
Speaking on the bill on Thursday, the Chairman of Delta State House Committee on Public Accounts, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Anthony Elekeokwuri, representing Ika North East state constituency said the monopoly had led to loss of man-power, bankruptcy in businesses and prevention of local and foreign investors from engaging the state in genuine businesses.
The lawmaker, who spoke on the positive impact of the committee on the financial report of the state when members of the Asaba Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ visited him in Asaba said crazy billings as a result of estimated bills, total blackout and incessant power outage would be a thing of the past when other private investors would start engaging the electricity company in healthy competition.
He said that apart from the fact that the committee has helped the state government in blocking all areas of wastage and financial leakages, it has also helped to enshrine accountability, transparency and probity in the governance of the state.
Elekeokwuri said, “we will generate and regulate our own power when private investors come into the state. Until we say no to electricity monopoly by distribution companies, we will not get it right as a state. The bill when passed and signed into law by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa would unbundle the monopoly being currently imposed on electricity consumers in the state who are paying exorbitantly for what they did not consume.”
He expressed optimism that by next year, the bill would reach advanced stage at the 7th Assembly of the state for private investors to troop into the state; adding that the investment would boost the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, of the state, create employment opportunities and bring succour to residents of the state.
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