Power outage throws Ondo, Ekiti into darkness

For 10 days running, cities, towns and villages in parts of Ondo and Ekiti states had been thrown into total darkness due to power outrage in the states.
Residents of Akure, Owo, Ikare, Ikere, Ado-Ekiti and other towns groaned in the effect of the power cut since last week without any hope of power supply by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in days to come.
A staff of BEDC who did not want his name in print told Daily Independent in Akure, the Ondo state capital on Sunday, that the electricity supply problem was beyond the immediate power of the company which has it head office in Benin-City, Edo state.
“The electricity supply was cut-off from the transmission station in Osogbo, Osun State which need major engineering works to put the supply back in action,” the BEDC staff stated.
When our correspondent called at the district office of the distribution company in Akure, the former public relation unit of the then Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) headed by Mr. Adegoke Ademola was no more in existence, while the district manager was said to be away in Benin for a meeting.
However, traders and business owners in the affected cities have started counting their losses, as the power outrage persists.
A cold-room operator in Adeleke market, Arakale, in Akure, simply known as Mr. Olajide lamented that frozen foods amounting to several millions of naira had gone bad inside his giant cold room since there was no generating set to power the room.
Olajide said “My brother, you can bear me witness as you can see all these boxes of frozen fish, turkey and chicken that already got spoilt and not good for consumption again; I am only waiting for the truck I sent for to help dispose it at dump site.
“We’re begging our governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko to intervene in this power situation because it’s as if the distribution company (BEDC) has lost focus and does not know the next step to take to restore the supply.”
Also, a barber’s shop operator, Damola Adeoye of SuperCut Salon, FUTA area, Akure said he had spent over N20, 000 on fuel to power his generating set since the power outage, with little or no profit on such venture in 10 days.