Ondo communities to picket BEDC office over 8 months blackout

By Adeleye Kunle

Residents of Irese, Aaye, and Ikota towns in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State who have been without electricity for more than six months vowed on Friday to shut down business activities at the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, in Akure, the state capital.

The residents who decried the situation said the situation hampered economic progress in their communities.

The affected areas have been in total darkness since February 2022, leading to lots of business owners, especially artisans whose livelihoods depend on power, relocating from the towns, with many shops and stores shut down as a result of the situation.

In a protest letter addressed to the regional manager of BEDC, Akure, the furious residents also claimed that the power outage had created insecurity in the three communities.