Knocks, headbutts and condemnations have continued to trail a recent post by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), raining curses on those vandalising transformers and bypassing meters in the country.
In a post shared on its official X handle on Thursday morning, BEDC also extended its disapproval to customers engaged in meter bypassing.
The post stated: “E no go beta for who dey vandalize transformer and who dey bypass.”
This outburst has sparked diverse reactions among netizens, with some finding the approach surprising and somewhat unprofessional.
Reacting, an X user, @iamkissking, frowned at the post, saying the Distribution Company (DisCos) are never responsible for fixing of transformers. “As you talk am e good E NOR GO BETTER FOR UNA CAUSE NA WE DEY USE OUR MONEY FIX TRANSFORMER FOR THIS SIDE,” the tweets says.
@DatNaijaGuy1 corroborated @iamkissking, and according to him, getting prepaid meters that should be available to customers is difficult. “Transformers una no dey buy, even cable kpa-kpa una no dey buy. Prepaid metre wey una suppose give customers una go dey sell am at exorbitant prices. Light we no dey see but una must still collect money. How life wan take better for una?”
For another netizen, who tweeted @deluxe_k, same curses applies those responsible for electricity distribution, he said: “Amen … same applies to who does not give light but keeps increasing tariff…”
@WajufisGm shared: “Amen May misfortune be the portion of distribution company wey dey service most part of Ondo state but refuse to provide light for 24hrs in a week 4 majority of the pple May the company perish.
Aisan ojiji ko gbe oṣise ile iṣe na, ki ṣise dey ba wọn(Ṣise ti o mu obuKọ..)”
@edin_sparkle questioned: “If person won even swear, shey na you suppose Dey swear? You weh swear Dey sleep with, Dey wake with, swear Dey everything weh you Dey do, infact your poor performance in Oye-ikole axis is a result of swears you guys don use head pack.”
@OfficiaEdoOsasB also wrote, ”Na Ogun go fess qee una. Transformer Una nor dey provide, na community dey contribute money to take buy am….. Dem go still call una to come install am una go still bill Dem….. Na community still dey contribute money to take buy pole. Una own na to come dey disturb for light bill for light wey we nor dey see. The next time you wan change fuse, e must spark and catch fire for ur pweek.”
Supporting BEDC, @badboyriick wrote, ”Amen”. Another Netizen, who tweeted @your_Favxparte while showing solidarity with the DisCo, expressed dismay over the approach, ”Bedc dey swear ke?”
Meanwhile, on January 22, 2025, NERC released new order on meter tampering and electricity theft.
NERC said it follows the Electricity Act 2023 and aimed to stop illegal connections and ensure fair metering.
“Customers who bypass meters or tamper with electricity must pay charges, including meter replacement and reconnection costs,” NERC stated.
The order sets clear penalties: first-time offenders with single-phase meters will pay N100,000, rising to N150,000 for repeat cases. Three-phase meter offenders will pay N200,000 initially and N300,000 later. Maximum demand users will be fined 450% of their last bill, increasing to 600% for repeat offences.