Omu-Aran Residents Protest Electricity Bill Hikes Amid IBEDC's Billing Reclassification

Date: 2025-04-13

Youths in Omu-Aran, under Irepodun Local Council in Kwara State, held a protest over the weekend against what they termed "outrageous billing" by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). The demonstration followed a sudden reclassification of the community's electricity billing from Band C to Bands B and A.

The protest, led by two traditional masquerades, saw residents blocking major streets - including Olomu and Latinwo Market areas, the Olomu palace, and the IBEDC office at Omu-Aran City Complex - with placards and barricades. Protesters claimed the shift to Band A caused a sharp spike in March 2025 electricity bills, with some residents reportedly charged between N41,000 and N47,000, compared to previous rates of N10,000 to N15,000.

Demonstrators also blocked the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti highways, disrupting traffic for hours. They vowed to continue the protest until IBEDC and local leaders address their demands.

In a joint statement, Mr Niyi Adeyeye (President of Omu-Aran Development Association) and Elder Ranti Adebayo outlined the protesters' demands:

Replacement of faulty transformers affecting power supply.

Reversal of the Band A classification back to Band C.

Suspension of current Band A charges.

A review of billing practices to reflect prior rates.

An independent audit of IBEDC's service delivery in the town.

They also rejected the presence of police and other security escorts, insisting the protest would remain peaceful.

Receiving the protesters at his palace, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, appealed for calm and assured them that community leaders were engaging with IBEDC officials to resolve the issue.

When contacted, the Omu-Aran Business Manager of IBEDC, Mr A. O. Badmus, declined comment, directing inquiries to the company's Kwara State Communication Officer, Mr Gbenga Ajiboye.

Ajiboye explained that electricity regulation falls under the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

He noted that customers receiving up to 20 hours of power daily are categorised under Band A, which currently includes the Omu-Aran community. He described the situation as a business matter between service providers and consumers, adding that high-level discussions were ongoing to resolve the dispute.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Tinubu     KWATMA     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Odolaye Aremu     Emir Of Lafiagi     Yomi Ogunsola     Mutawali Of Ilorin     Olabanji Orilonishe     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Surajudeen Akanbi     Mohammed Saidu     Ayinde Oki     Obasanjo     Kwara Pdp     Adamu Attah     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Bareke     Aliyu Muhammed     Matthew Babaoye     Mope Dasuki Belgore     KSIRS     Olaiya Lawal     Folashade Omoniyi     Ilorin East     TESCOM 2025     Bamikole Omishore     Zaratu Umar     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Chikanda     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Kwara State Polytechnic     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     NTA Ilorin     Ganiyu Abolarin     Nigerian Army     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Niyi Osundare     Alao Ayotunde     Mufti Of Ilorin     Ajike People Support Centre     Nigerian Supreme Council For Islamic Affairs     Kaosarah Adeyi     Countryside Emerging Leaders Fellowship     Hassan Saliu     ASUU     Umar Ayinla Saro     Najim Yaasin     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Busari Toyin Isiaka     Kazeem Oladepo     Kamaldeen Kehinde     Local Government     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Sherif Shagaya     Special Agro-Industrial Hub     Sam Onile     AbdulHamid Adi     Damilola Yusuf     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Ayobami Seriki     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Al-Hikmah Radio     David Oyedepo     Pius Abioje     Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola     Harrison Osauwagboe     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Agor     Maryam Ado Bayero     Kayode Bankole     Yomi Adeboye     IQRA College     Salary     Muhammadu Buhari     Abdulkareem Alabi    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Nigeria Computer Society     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Hassan Taiye Salam     TESCOM 2025     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Femi Ogunsola     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     08001000100     Folaranmi Aro     Ayinke Saka     Omu-aran     Umar Gunu     AbdulRazaq AbduMajeed Alaro     Bolakale Kawu Agaka     IHS Towers     Bashir Badawi     Rotimi Atere     Ishaq Oloyede     Council Of The Wise     Ayedun     Reuben Paraje     Raymond Olaitan     Usman Yunusa     Earlyon Technologies     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     NYSC     Maryam Ado Bayero     Ola Falade     Olayinka Olaogun     Abdulrauf Aliyu     Nurudeen Muhammed     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Medinat Folorunsho Salman     Suwa-Arabs     Garba Idris Ajia     Hakeem Idris     Salami Adekunle     Oyawoye     Alikinla     Kwara NIPR     Yusuf Mubarak     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell     Dan Iya     Ayegbeni     Idiagbon     Ghali Muhammed     Adisa Logun     Omar Gambari     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Tayo Awodiji     Mamman Saba Jibril     Boko Haram     Jani Ibrahim     Umar Ahmed Gunu     General Hospital, Ilorin     Oluranti Idowu     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Garba Ado Sanni     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     CACOVID     Otoge     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Curfew     Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo     Afonja Descendants Union     Jumoke Gafar     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Press Release     Road Transport Employers Association Of Nigeria     Tosin Saraki     Joseph Bamigboye     Sam Okaula     Kisra     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Olam Food Ingredients