Rights Group Raises Alarm Over BEDC Tariff Hike, Seeks Urgent Government Intervention

The National Coordinator of the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancements (ISRCA), Comrade (Amb.) Derrick Oritsematosan Agberen, has called for an urgent review of what he described as exorbitant electricity tariff adjustments and irregularities by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) in Delta State.

In a statement made available to Oasis Magazine on Friday, Agberen expressed concern over the recent increase in electricity tariffs, particularly its impact on prepaid meter users.

He noted that while BEDC operates under the regulatory oversight of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the latest tariff adjustment appears excessive and does not reflect the prevailing economic realities facing Nigerians.

According to him, evidence from recent electricity purchases suggests a sharp decline in the value of prepaid electricity units.

He claimed that ₦5,000 worth of electricity purchased during the first week of July 2026 yielded 112.9 units, while the same amount spent barely two to three weeks later produced only 22.3 units.

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Describing the development as alarming, Agberen said the reduction of more than 80 percent in electricity units within such a short period raises serious questions about the methodology used in determining the new tariff and warrants an immediate investigation by the relevant authorities.

He warned that the current tariff regime could force an average civil servant earning the national minimum wage to spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income on electricity alone, a situation he described as unsustainable.

The ISRCA National Coordinator further cautioned that the increasing cost of electricity could push some consumers toward illegal power connections and meter bypass in an attempt to cope with the financial burden.

While encouraging energy efficiency, he stressed that transparency, fairness, and accountability in electricity billing should remain the immediate priority.

Agberen therefore appealed to the Delta State Government, through the Commissioner for Power and Energy, Engr. Micheal Ifeanyi Anoka, as well as the management of BEDC led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Jonathan O. Lawani, the Warri Regional Head, Mr. Curtis Nwadei, and the Sapele Regional Head, Mr. Okolosi P. I., to urgently review the tariff structure, investigate the alleged discrepancies, and engage relevant stakeholders to prevent further hardship and possible public unrest.

He maintained that swift intervention is necessary to restore fairness, affordability, and public confidence in electricity billing across Delta State.

Editor’s Note: The claims regarding the number of electricity units received for prepaid purchases are those of the statement’s author and have not been independently verified. BEDC and NERC had not issued responses to the allegations at the time of filing this report.