Edo Power Giant Ossiomo Still Down After One Year: Vandalism, Chinese Partner Feud Exposed

Ossiomo Power Company, once the heartbeat of reliable electricity for businesses and government offices across Benin City, has been silent for nearly one year. The 95-megawatt plant in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, is grounded by a toxic mix of facility vandalism and a bitter dispute with its Chinese technical partner. This is a blow to the over 20 major manufacturers, hotels, and the Edo State Government House that once thrived on steady power.

What happened to Ossiomo Power in Edo State?

The crisis began in 2025 when the Edo State Government ditched Ossiomo and returned to the public supplier, BEDC Ltd. Shortly after, Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (CCETC), Ossiomo's Chinese partner, reportedly pulled out, citing concerns over how the deal was being run. CCETC then launched its own power generation investment in the same area, tapping into the same gas plant. Soon after, Ossiomo's connecting line was vandalized, cutting off power to its estimated 1,500 customers.

Businesses in Benin City count the cost of the power outage

From the Production Centre in Evbuoriaia to the shopping mall on Sapele Road and hotels in GRA and Stadium Road, the story is the same: back to public power and generators, and back to burning cash. A staff member at the shopping mall told NDV:

We have to resort to public power and generators, which come with many inconveniences and costs. We were comfortable with Ossiomo light; it made this place more friendly. Now we are spending more and getting less value.

A hotel owner behind the stadium added:

My hotel business is back to spending almost half of our earnings on power.

Some businesses have reportedly shut down entirely.

Community dispute or sabotage? The Ologbo standoff

At Ologbo, some community members have aligned with the Chinese company. A security aide alleged that youths repeatedly disrupted operations, destroyed CCTV equipment, and created an illegal entrance into the gas plant, claiming ownership of land that Ossiomo says it acquired from the late Oba Erediauwa. Community leader Felix Okotie denied attacking Ossiomo's facility, saying:

We don't know them. They are not friendly with the community, but we enjoy 24-hour power supply in Ologbo from the Chinese company.

He added that all community decisions are made by the elders during periodic meetings.

Ossiomo cries foul: Forged signatures and obsolete engines

Ossiomo's Site Engineer, Francis Chukwuma, decried the vandalization of the company's 33KV line and the takeover of the gas station. He noted that appeals to vacate have been ignored, and that Ossiomo contributed over N182 million to the Ologbo community through CSR in 2025 alone.

For nearly one year, the company has been forcefully and illegally put out of business. We are getting sick and tired of this situation because our teeming customers are wallowing in darkness, and the company's investment is in jeopardy,

Chukwuma said.

Ossiomo management also raised serious allegations against CCETC, claiming the signature of the Board Secretary was forged to open a bank account in 2020, and that CCETC delivered 94 used and obsolete gas engines in 2018 with allegedly altered manufacturing dates. Some of these matters are now before the court.

CCETC fires back: 'They did not follow the JVA'

CCETC, however, accused Ossiomo of violating their joint venture agreement. A top director claimed Ossiomo held only 25 percent equity while CCETC held 75 percent, and alleged that subscriber payments were not paid into the joint account as agreed.

They did not transfer those licences. They did not follow the JVA,

he said.

What happens next for Ossiomo Power?

Last Thursday, youths frustrated an attempt by Ossiomo to reconnect to the gas plant, reportedly destroying vehicles and verbally assaulting journalists and civil society groups present. The youths blocked the only exit road and handled some individuals roughly before security intervened. Civil society groups, including the Talakawa Parliament, have appealed to Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Benin monarch to intervene in the crisis.

The question remains: will Edo State's industrial engine roar back to life, or will foreign interests and local discord keep it in the dark?