Five years after disconnecting from the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the Edo State Government has reconnected to the power distribution company for electricity supply.
The Godwin Obaseki-led administration in 2020 broke the BEDC monopoly in the state by supporting the construction of Ossiomo Power, an electricity generation and distribution firm.
The switch over to BEDC by the state government was due to the shutdown of Ossiomo Power Plant since September 1, resulting from an ownership tussle between Ossiomo Power and its Chinese partners, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC).
Ossiomo Power generates 95MW of electricity, which it supplies to government buildings, Edo Government House, Edo NUJ secretariat, private organisations, streetlights, among others.
Director General of the Edo State Electrification Agency, Saturday Omozokpea Egbadon, who confirmed the switch over to the BEDC, said electricity has been restored to some streetlights and government buildings.