By Emmanuel Oluwadola
As the experiences of writing examinations in darkness are still much fresh in the brain of students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), the Senior Commercial Officer/Service Manager of Akungba, Isua and Oka-Akoko Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mr. Adesola Samuel, has cleared the air on the reason for poor electricity supply in Akungba-Akoko — a host community of AAUA.
In some reports before the recent ugly experience, students of AAUA, most especially those residing off-campus have made their grievances known, saying the failure of the Akungba BEDC officials in providing stable electricity when students are in academic sessions is questionable.
Speaking with ECHO MEDIA, Akungba BEDC Manager said students play a major role in the epileptic power supply by tapping from the Megawatts illegally.
"We have seen situations where we disconnect cables of debtors. Then once supply is restored, 70-75 percent of them would hang their wires back on poles. These actions have a direct effect on our DSS (Transformers). It leads to Fuse cuts, G&P cuts, and so on."
According to him, the company generates electricity from Okene, Kogi State, a neighboring state, and the electricity is distributed based on the Megawatts received.
His words: "We are supposed to have 12 Megawatts from the direct feeders, but it has dropped between five and four Megawatts, and the more the Megawatts, the more stable the electricity would be, and vice versa.
"The student population has nothing to do with the Megawatts. In our context, energy is what we produce. We buy energy from generation through transmission and we sell to our customers. Once the production drops, we won't be able to get our 12 Megawatts and that's when population comes into play."
Mr. Samuel further said he had met with the AAUA Students' Union executives and some concerned student bodies on several occasions to notify them about the illegal generation of electricity.
"My office is wide open if students have any issues. Since I resumed office in November 2022, I have been working very hard to make sure the community gets an adequate electricity supply. The Student Union executives and some concerned students have been here on several occasions and I have explained things to them.
"It would be a thing of joy for me to see that everyone gets a power supply during my tenure. That's what I have in mind to achieve here. So, AAUA students should note that if they do not get a power supply, it means that our officials are not getting power from Okene– the transmission company which we get supplies from."
"If our company here in Akungba doesn't have 12 Megawatts or more, we would be having difficulties because of the shortage of Megawatts and the illegal setting up of cables among people," he narrated.
What Is AAUASU Saying About It?
In a few months to come, AAUA students will be electing new Students' Union executives to pilot their affairs for another academic session.
Reacting to the epileptic electricity power supply, the outgoing Welfare Director of the AAUASU, Odole Mojisola, known as Voice on behalf of the Union said that several meetings had been held with Akungba BEDC on the issue but the only response from the officials was "poor electricity supply in Akungba is not a deliberate action."
She confirmed that the Students' Union leaders are not happy with the situation, adding that it was not fair for students to be paying for the services they aren't enjoying.
"During the few meetings we've had with the BEDC, they said the circumstances are beyond their power and control," she added.
"As the welfare director, I am not happy with the situation. It is wrong. It's in our society that things like this happen. It is not supposed to be like that. I hope they will do better."
School Management Reacts
ECHO MEDIA put a call through to the Dean of Students' Affairs (DSA), Prof. Olusegun Akanbi to clarify if there are steps taken to ensure there is a stable supply for students as they resume a new academic session. He said, "write a letter to the Vice Chancellor through the Dean. The VC will be ready to answer any questions from the students."
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