Osogbo Communities Protest Epileptic Power Supply

Residents of communities in Osogbo under the aegis of United Communities have raised concerns over the persistent epileptic electricity supply by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The communities expressed their concerns in a communiqué submitted to the IBEDC Osogbo Business District Office on Wednesday.

The Chairman of the communities, Mr Sulaiman Buruji, led residents to the IBEDC office to submit the communiqué.

The affected communities include Owo-Eba, Garage Ilesa, Tara, Oke-Bale axis, OSBC area, Uniosun axis, Air Force Base, Army Depot, Boredun, Coker, Odu, and Omu.

In the communiqué, the communities asked IBEDC to restore them to Band A.

They stated that since the reclassification of the communities from Band A to C, they have been subjected to grossly inadequate power supply.

The communiqué noted that, contrary to the Electricity Distribution Service Reflective Tariff framework, which stipulates a minimum of 12 to 16 hours of daily supply for Band C, the communities receive barely four hours of electricity per day.

It added that, in some instances, an entire day may pass without electricity supply.

According to the communiqué, the impact of the epileptic power supply has been devastating, with residents experiencing severe hardship and small-scale businesses on the verge of collapse.

“Corporate institutions are also significantly affected.

“For instance, the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation has reportedly been constrained to transmitting for less than six hours daily due to inadequate electricity supply,” the communiqué stated.

The communities demanded to be restored to Band A classification within seven days, urging IBEDC management to urgently rectify the supply deficit in line with the stipulated minimum hours of electricity per band.

The communiqué stated that failure by IBEDC to comply with their demand within the stated timeframe would compel the communities to take lawful and collective actions, including reconsidering the operational access of IBEDC personnel within the communities.

The communities reiterated their commitment to peaceful engagement but said they would not remain passive in the face of prolonged injustice and economic hardship.

In reaction, the IBEDC Regional Head, Osogbo, Mr Ifeanyi Ikeji, told the aggrieved communities that moving customers to Band A does not depend on IBEDC.

Ikeji said the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is the only body that can approve feeders to be moved to Band A.

He explained that their removal from Band A was due to IBEDC’s inability to provide them with 20 hours of electricity daily.

He added that although he is willing to return them to Band A, the challenges facing the power sector would not make it possible for now.

Ikeji, however, promised that as the situation improves, the communities would be upgraded to Band A.(NAN)