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.

Yahaya Muhammad     Adeniyi Ojo     Just Law Forum     Federal Road Maintenance Agency     Ijagbo Health Centre     Modupe Oluwole     Yahaya Abdulkareem     CT Ayeni     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Rihanat Ajia     Nnazua     Eruku     Sai Kayi     Lafiagi     Park     Pakata     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Ahman Pategi University     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa     Oluwole Dupe     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Offa Metropolitan Club     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Bursary     Nagode     Zaratu Umar     Gbajabiamila     Mogaji Aare     Christian Association Of Nigeria     AIT Ilorin     Isiaka Gold     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Asa     Fatimat Saliu     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     JSSCE     Okin Group     Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan     Smart School     Olabimpe Olani     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Nigerian Army     Olusola Saraki     Ibrahim Taiwo     Doyin Group     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Olatunji Ayeni     Toyin Abdullahi     Ope Saraki     Rafiu Ibrahim     Olabode George Towoju     Yahaya Dumoye     QuickWin     Damilola Yusuf     Muhammadu Buhari     Okasanmi Ajayi     Offa Grammer School     3MTT     ENetSuD     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Edu     Lawal Jimoh     Lithium     Abubakar B.M     Aliyu Sabi     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     KwaraLearn     Olatunde Oyeyiola     Nigeria Computer Society     Durbar Festival     Bluenile Associates     Mohammed Danjuma     Adamu Atta     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Oluwarotimi Boluwatife Adenike    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Orire     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Ibikunle Ogunleye     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Christopher Tunji Ayeni     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Sunset Workers     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     GGDSS Pakata     MINILS     Shehu Jimoh     Plat Technologies Limited     Senate     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Idris Garuba     Chemiroy Nigeria Limited     TESCOM     Roheemat Hammed     Musibau Akanji     Balogun-Ojomu     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Abdulraheem Olesin     Fawenu     Ajayi Okasanmi     Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Dagbalodo     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Kwara Poly     Ado Ibrahim     Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi     National Information Technology Development Agency     Bola Magaji     Saliu Mustapha     George Funsho Adebayo     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Lukman Adeloyin     Bamidele Aluko     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Towoju     Federal Polytechnic Offa     Khairat Gwadabe     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Kumbi Titilope     Bilikis Oladimeji     AGM Professional Services     Mike Omotosho     Olabode George Towoju     Wasiu Onidugbe     Femi Ogunsola     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     YAKOOYO     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Lanre Badmus     David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Kayode Bankole     Ajibike Katibi     Abegunde Goke     Funke Adedoyin     JAAC     Jimoh Bashir     Kwara Liberation Group     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Omoniyi M. Ayinla     Omu-aran     Grillo     Lai Mohammed     Abubakar B.M     Kwha.gov.ng     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Mahee Abdulkadir     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Oke Sunna