The South-South Zone of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed deep frustration over the deteriorating electricity supply affecting tertiary institutions across Delta State.
The group described the situation as unacceptable, noting that it has seriously disrupted academic work and taken a toll on students’ well-being.
In a letter addressed to the Managing Director and CEO of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Zonal Coordinator Comrade Victor Ogechukwu Anthony revealed that reports from several campuses point to constant power outages and poor service. The letter, issued from the NANS Zone B Secretariat in Ogwashi-Uku and titled *“Urgent Notice of Discontent: Unacceptable Epileptic Power Supply and Fraudulent Estimated Billing Across Delta State Campuses,”* highlighted that many students have endured weeks of unreliable or almost non-existent electricity, yet continue to receive high estimated bills.
Anthony criticized the situation as a “pay-for-darkness” system, where consumers are billed for electricity they never received. He argued that this practice goes against the service-based tariff guidelines set by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). He added that beyond poor service delivery, the situation threatens both the academic performance and financial stability of students who rely heavily on electricity for studying and daily living.
He therefore called for an immediate halt to estimated billing and urged the company to ensure the transparent rollout of prepaid meters in student-dense areas. According to him, this aligns with the Federal Government’s policy of providing free meters and ending estimated billing, so that consumers are only charged for the power they actually use.
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