An apex pressure group that has been fighting for the welfare of the people of Ika Nation in the areas of ensuring steady electricity supply, good road network, proper refuse disposal among others, in their meeting held on Tuesday, 11th of July, 2018 at their secretariat along Memeh Street, Boji-Boji Owa, vowed to resist any pre-condition that will be attached to the issuance of Prepaid Meters by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to its customers in Ika Nation.
The President of the Association, Mr. Vincent Arimokwu while addressing the members of the Association frowned at the statement made by BEDC Business Manager of Agbor Business District, Mr. Timothy Adeleye in Ika Weekly newspaper dated Saturday June 23-Saturday June 30, 2018, where he stated that certain conditions must be met before the issuing of Prepaid Meters to customers.
Mr. Arimokwu made reference to the meeting Ika Landlords/Landladies Association held with the Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O.) of BEDC and her Management Staff with the Secretary to Delta State Government at the Government House, Asaba on 17th May, 2018 where it was jointly resolved and agreed that there must not be any pre-condition for the issuance of Prepaid Meters to customers in Ika Nation.
It is therefore surprising and annoying for the BEDC Business Manager to be giving conditions for the issuing of Prepaid Meters to customers, such as to pay all outstanding arrears of estimated and illegal bills.
Ika Landlord/Landladies Association protested against estimated, illegal and exorbitant bills that were always given to customers without reading their meters. How can BEDC Business Manager now subject customers who applied for Prepaid Meters to pay such bills? This is another way of asking the customers to pay for Prepaid Meters indirectly, which is not acceptable.
Either BEDC gives us Prepaid Meters free as stipulated by law or they stop their services in Ika land. Ika Nation is prepared to seriously resist it at all cost. If BEDC is not ready to give us prepaid meter free of charge, the company should pack and leave Ika Nation, to avoid the already aggrieved and angry populace resorting to self help.