Benin Electricity Distribution Company, BEDC, has disconnected
electricity supply to Benin Airport over unpaid accumulated bills.
The power supply to the airport was disconnected last week.
Passengers were seen sweating profusely at the arrival and departure
halls of the airport yesterday, with several passengers having to fan
themselves with newspapers as all air conditioners in the halls and
adjourning offices were switched off as the electricity generating
plants could not power them.
A staff of the airport who spoke on condition of anonymity told
journalists that power supply to the airport was cut over a week ago by
the electricity distribution company, despite the fact that about N2
million was being paid monthly to the power company.
“The management pays between N1.8 million and N2 million every month,
yet they came to disconnect us last week. We have been running on
generators and they are not powerful enough to carry the air
conditioners.”
Public Relations Officer of Benin Electricity Company, Mr. Curtis
Nwiadei, when contacted, confirmed that power supply to the airport was
disconnected over unpaid bill of N4.3 million, adding, “that is why they
were disconnected.”
The disconnection was not the first time the airport had been accused
of non-payment of dues/bills. A few months ago, Edo State Board of
Internal Revenue Board sealed off the office of the airport manager over
unpaid taxes deducted from workers’ salaries for several years without
remittances to the state government.
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