Ife North: Residents Protest Erratic Supply Of Electricity

–We’re Working Seriously To Resolve The Problem – IBEDC

Residents of Ipetumodu, Edunabon, Moro, Yakooyo, Asipa and Akinlalu communities in Ife North Local Government area of Osun State, Tuesday took the streets to protest what they termed “erratic supply of electricity” in their various communities.

The protesters, who staged the peaceful protest to register their grievances, said that they were not happy with the long hours of darkness occasioned by poor electricity supply and outrageous bill by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).

The aggrieved residents who trooped out en masses took their protest to the undertaking office of IBEDC, at 7:am and forced the staff out with a stern warning not to report to the office until they find lasting solution to the problem.

The protesters, who were armed with placards bearing different inscriptions, which expressed their thoughts on the irregular supply of power to their areas, accused management of the electricity firm of crippling their businesses and subjecting them to attacks by hoodlums, particularly in the night.

Speaking to journalists, Acting Youth President, Babalola Taiwo, said that it is sad that the six communities have been subjected to long hours of darkness by the IBDEC.

Taiwo said: “We don’t know what we did to IBEDC. They subjected us to epileptic power supply to our area. They don’t give us light in the day and at night when they give us,

“Because of this most of the artisans especially those who cannot afford to buy generators have moved out of the community, the impact on the economic situation is negative because of the electricity situation.

“Another unfortunate incident resurfaced since three months ago, where just an hour supply were made in a week, various meetings were held with the management without any result.

“The response wasn’t go down well with us which forced us to chased the staff of IBEDC on duty out of the office and we warned them not to report to that office again until 8hrs electricity supply is made available in Ife North while we mandated every residents not to pay more than #1000 on the bill for the month of March even April 2023.

” The protest today is just a preamble if the electricity company remain adamant in attending to our plight”.

The leader of the youths used the medium to appeal to the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke and the newly elected member of the state House of Assembly, Hon Akinyode Abidemi Oyewusi to urgently come to their aid saying the entire communities in Ife North are completely in darkness.

Contacted, the Senior Communication Officer of IBEDC, Osun Region, Mrs. Kikelomo Owoeye, appealed to residents of the area to remain calm as the company is working seriously to resolve the problem.

“We want to appeal to our Esteemed Customers in Ife North for any inconveniences the issue of irregular power supply has cost them.

“On March 10, 2023 there was a fault due to a faulty equipment from Transmission Station, Ajebandele which resulted to a prolonged outage.

“As a customer friendly company we had to source for the faulty equipment to ensure supply is restored to Ife North but unfortunately there was another breaker fault at the control room which delayed the total restoration.

“Though, all the faults have been cleared and we have began to work towards achieving the minimum of 8 hours of supply which is the Service Tariff Band D they belong to.

“Meanwhile, we have had series of meetings with the Youths and Monarchs of the area and we have advised that all disputed bills should be forwarded to the Business Hub, Ile-Ife for prompt resolution.

“We have also promised to increase our response in fault clearing due to the peculiarity of the network.

“In view of this, as a company we are not folding our hands on the issue and we are appealing to all the youths and members of Ife North to bear with us and always contact us whenever there is any faults, as we have various avenues to relate and we will ensure quick response.

“We will also continue to engage them on our Whatsapp platform, Community Engagements and our other customer resolution channels”.