Speaking on the allegations, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of EDOCSO, Comrade Osazee Edigin, said the fight against such rights violations by BEDC had been on for years.
He said: “Members of the community complained about the estimated billing, saying it was too high. And just because some people refused to pay, BEDC came with two trucks filled with soldiers to effect the disconnection from the transformer.”
Some human rights activists were alerted and when they got to the community, some of the soldiers threatened to shoot them. The tense atmosphere was diffused by the intervention of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area and some of his men, who arrived in the nick of time.
Edigin added: “In our quest and determination to unravel the incessant brutality of citizens by military personnel attached to the white expatriates working with BEDC, more citizens are coming up with stunning revelations of their ordeal in the hands of the soldiers, just as we are working tirelessly at putting a stop to it. Mr. Sunday Amienoho, a Youth Leader in Obe Community of Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State had been attacked by these soldiers.
“Amienoho said that officials of BEDC in company with the white expatriates came to his community to effect disconnection. He said that BEDC failed to give them 10 days’ notice in writing as demanded by law. Amienoho was asked to remove his car, which was parked close to an electric pole, and while he was trying to move it, the next thing he got was attack from the military personnel attached to the white expatriates. In his words, ‘they messed me up like an animal in my own country.’
“Again, news got to us that they were at Iduowina, Oluku axis intimidating and molesting citizens in the name of collecting electricity bills. It should be noted that before now, there had been other instances that the military men had been deployed by the management of BEDC to unleash terror on citizens over electricity bills. We are also getting similar activity reports in other states.
“The Federal Government should, as a matter of urgency, revoke the licence of BEDC as they have militarised their operations in Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states. Our government has further reduced our reputation in the comity of nations by converting our military men to mere body guards and errand boys to foreigners who were hitherto jobless in their home countries before coming here.”
When briefed about the incidents, the Commissioner, Consumer Affairs, National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Moses Arigu, said the victims should first go to BEDC office to make a report. He added that if they were not attended to, then they should report to NERC, making sure all complaints were put in writing.
Incidentally, the victims, under EDOSCO, have petitioned the police, military, BEDC, Immigration, NERC and Edo State government. Some copies of the petitions were presented to our correspondent.
On August 15, our correspondent went to BEDC headquarters, with a view to see Osibudu, but the effort was futile. She was directed to the Assistant General Manager (AGM), Corporate Affairs Office.
At the BEDC headquarters, there were three soldiers in full uniform. One of them, patrolling the outside perimeter of the building, was armed.
The Head of Public Affairs, BEDC, Mr. Tayo Adekunle, was not around, but Mr. Ibeh Odoh, his assistant, attended to our correspondent.
Reacting to allegations that their company uses soldiers to harass, intimidate and brutalise energy consumers, among other atrocities, Odoh said it was a pack of lies.
He said: “It a false story. We don’t use soldiers to brutalise our customers. Those white men are USAID members working with BEDC. They are not our staff; they are more like technical partners, under USAID Power Africa Project. The soldiers are attached to the white men by the U.S. Embassy. USAID Power Africa Project is only operated by three Discos – Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), BEDC and Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC). These three Discos have USAID members working with their network.
“We have heard about these allegations and we have gone on air to debunk them. Whenever these white men go out to check the network, soldiers stay behind them. The white men assess our field officers to ensure they work better. The white men also help to pull down illegal connections. BEDC is just part of the few (firms) benefiting from their support.”
Odoh, who said that USAID had been very helpful to BEDC and Nigerians, disclosed that recently, USAID commissioned a truck donated to BEDC.
He added: “They are here to help us to improve our network. Our marketers are on the field and they don’t use military. BEDC has three white partners and anytime they go out, they move with soldiers because of security. The truth is that when people see soldiers, they panic. When customers act hostile, the soldiers might intervene to pro tect the white men. These white men have moved to Delta State. These conflicts happen because customers bypass (meters).”
Asked why BEDC officials in company with the white men and soldiers struggle for possession of electrical wires with their consumers, Odoh explained: “We collect the wires to discourage customers from reconnecting illegally. Before we embark on disconnection, we usually give first, second and third warnings. Usually, after seizing the wires, we burn them. The white men are trying to sanitise things. They are trying to put checks and balances.”
According to Odoh, it was only one instance that BEDC received a complaint of a customer being brutalised.
He said: “We once had issue of a customer that connected illegally. The customers forcibly tried to attack the white men. That is what we see every day. Some customers feel white men can’t come to Nigeria and start making trouble, even though these men are not making trouble.”
Asked if he didn’t think it was wrong for BEDC officials to take wires that customers bought with their money, Odoh said several warnings had been issued to customers, never to use their money to buy any item for energy supply. He declared that it was BEDC’s responsibility to buy transformers and other items for consumers, while consumers were expected to pay for their bills.
Speaking further on soldiers brutalising customers, Odoh said: “If there are victims, let them come to our office to complain and we shall carry out investigations.”
Responding to questions on why BEDC couldn’t supply meters to all customers to avoid estimated billings and customers’ quarrel over energy consumption, Odoh said: “Most communities have been ‘metered’ 100 per cent. We want to meter everybody, in particular communities. As at 2016, BEDC had the highest metering progress in the country.”
According to the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria website, “Power Africa is a U.S. government initiative that addresses one of the most pressing challenges to sustainable economic growth and development in sub-Saharan Africa – access to electrical power. Power Africa will bridge the gap between Africa’s power shortage and its economic potential by working with U.S., international and African partners – private sector and government – to take the steps needed, from helping countries develop newly-discovered resources responsibly, to building out power generation and transmission and expanding the reach of mini-grid and off-grid solutions. The U.S. government will work closely with the African Development Bank (ADB) and other donors and investors to enhance the energy sector resources available.
“All the partners in the Power Africa initiative recognise that business and government must make long-term commitments to solve Africa’s energy deficit. Tough reforms are required on the part of government.”
Our correspondent tried to find out more about the USAID project from the other two beneficiaries.
The Senior Manager, Corporate Communication, AEDC, Mr. Bode Fadipe, said: “AEDC was among three Discos that received support from the USAID/PATRP in 2015. The support is focused on commercial transformation as well as commodity support which relates to donation of equipment. Under the transformation programme, which is implemented through Tetra Tech, there are five team members who are embedded in the operations and whose key focus is hands on support to field teams on commercial processes.
“During this programme, the key focus has been performance, management and monitoring, implementation of revenue protection activities, advisory support on technical issues and overall improvement of commercial processes. The key benefit also has been through skills transfer as well as donation of equipment.
“AEDC has had a good working relationship with the team implementing the USAID/PATRP programme. The white men relationship with us does not include operational issues as you have mentioned. We don’t go to the field or undertake disconnection of customers with soldiers. USAID support does not include such field work. In addition, no customer had been beaten by any AEDC staff. If anything, it is AEDC staff that have been assaulted by members of the public. In some instances, they have been struck with deadly weapons like shovel.”
Fadipe said that the need to protect the white men with soldiers or policemen did not arise, because, “they don’t get involved in such operational issues like going to the field to disconnect customers”.
He disclosed that the white men’s only operational issues were basically giving focus to commercial processes. “They advise on technical issues. The summary of this is that they provide back end support. There is therefore no need for security to go and disconnect,” said Fadipe.
The EKEDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Godwin Idemudia, said: “They help us to check and reduce energy losses. Before now, a lot of energy theft through bypassing had been going on. Their coming in was to help to see that it is reduced drastically. They also help us with equipment to ensure that our jobs are made easier. They assist us technically and showed us the best practice in the industry.”
Idemudia said that truly, the white men used to go out with them on disconnection, but stressed that they had never gone with soldiers.
He said: “The truth of the matter is that when these men go out for these jobs, some harassed them, some do not. But because of kidnapping, we tried to protect them.”
Asked if they use soldiers to protect these white men, Idemudia asked in surprise: “Soldiers? I don’t understand! What have soldiers got to do with civil matters? We don’t use soldiers for their protection. But I must tell you these white men are doing a great job.”
The Nigerian Army spokesman, Colonel Chukwu Texas, was contacted to find out if the Army truly attached soldiers to the white men, but he did not respond. When he was called on September 6, he denied being Texas, even when TrueCaller displayed his name.
On September 6, 7 and 8 WhatsApp messages were sent to him, but he didn’t respond even though he was online.
Our correspondent also contacted the U.S. Embassy, Lagos to intimate it about the allegations of the human rights violations. The first week, our correspondent got across to Mr. Temitayo Famutimi (Lagos Office), who asked that she should send an email on August 29. She did, but didn’t receive any response.
The following week, she contacted another media aide in the office, this time, a lady, who also asked that an email be sent. It was sent. Again, there was no response.
On September 5, our correspondent contacted Mr. Sani Mohammed, Senior Information Specialist, U.S. Embassy, Public Section, Abuja.
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