• We apologise, efforts ongoing for improvement, says IBEDC official
Residents of communities along Ibadan-Iwo Road, yesterday, staged a peaceful protest at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) office.
The residents, who alleged they had been experiencing 10 years of erratic power supply, stormed the IBEDC office at the Alabebe area and blocked part of the Ibadan-Iwo Road to press home their demands.
They bore placards with Yoruba inscriptions, which translated, read: Enough of 10 years of darkness! We reject darkness! Let there be light! Etc.
Some of the affected communities are: Olodo, Monatan, Alabebe, Iyana Church, Lalupon, Eji Oku, Iyana Offa, Adeleye, Lagun. Others are: Adewumi, Trailer Park, Erunmu, Fatumo, and Atari.
Speaking, the chairman of Iwo-Lalupon Feeder Electricity Consumers’ Association, Kunle Aworinde, said: “For the past 10 years, we have had no light. IBEDC had promised to restore our light many times but it failed. The Federal Government approved a project for power restoration in November last year. Up till now, no steps have been taken by IBEDC. We wrote to IBEDC in February, but up till now, there has been no reply. That is why we are embarking on this peaceful protest.”
Reacting, spokesperson for IBEDC, Busolami Tunwase, said the power distribution company had made efforts to address the power supply challenges affecting the Lalupon area and its environs.
According to her, despite the fact that the contract was awarded in December 2023, the project was delayed because financial intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria was not forthcoming.
The power company apologised for the inconveniences caused by the challenge.
“We assure our customers that every effort is being made to expedite completion of the 33KV substation project and restore full power supply,” she added.
