BEDC Ducks Accountability as Asaba, Environs Sink into Prolonged Blackout
By Maryann Uwandulu and Austin Mowete
The Public Relations Officer of the Asaba office of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has been unable,,,according to findings, been unable to provide explanations for the prolonged power failures and irregular electricity supply affecting Asaba and surrounding communities since the beginning of 2026.
The blackout has affected major towns including Ogwashi-Uku and Ibusa, plunging the Delta State capital territory and its environs into near-total darkness for weeks.
Student journalists on industrial training with the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF), who were dispatched to the BEDC office to seek official clarification, were met with evasive responses. The PRO declined to address the questions, stating that the appropriate official was unavailable and that the Asaba office might not be the right channel to explain the power situation.
She further suggested that inquiries be directed to BEDC’s headquarters in Benin.
The prolonged power outage has disrupted daily life across affected communities. Residents report acute water shortages as electric pumps remain idle, worsening sanitation conditions in homes where toilets cannot be flushed regularly.
Small and medium-scale businesses—including barbershops, tailoring outfits, business centres and panel-beating workshops—have been forced to shut down or scale back operations due to lack of electricity. Many residents also complained that food items stored in freezers have spoiled as a result of the outage.
The situation has been exacerbated by intense heat, with households left without electricity to power fans or cooling systems. While some families rely on generators, rising fuel costs have made sustained use unaffordable.
Despite the growing hardship, BEDC has yet to issue any public explanation for the persistent power failure in Asaba and its environs, leaving residents frustrated and without clarity on when normal electricity supply will be restored.
