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.

Osinbajo     Offa Poly     Akanji     Lawal Jimoh     Gobir     Ridwan Agboola     Gbenga Olawepo     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Atiku     Olatinwo     SWAN     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Agor     20 Billion Bond     Sunday Fagbemi     Musa Alhassan Buge     Ahmad Lawan     Aso-ofi     Ayodele Shittu     Mustapha Akanbi     Hussein Olokooba     Tayo Alao     Mohammed Yisa     Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji     Bilikisu Gambari     Code Of Conduct     Aminat Omodara     Principal Private Secretary     Kwara State Sports Commission     Pacify Labs     Wahab Agbaje     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Tsaragi/Share     Senate     Just Event Online     NAWOJ     Raheem Adaramaja     Rafiu Ajakaye     Fatimat Saliu     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Kayode Ogunlowo     Hauwa Nuru     Arca Santa     Adijat Adebiyi     Adedeji Onimago     UITH     Ojo Isekuse     Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria     Ilorin South Constituency     Sunday Otokiti     Saba Jibril     Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari     Idofin     Harmony Holdings     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Share     Omu-aran     S.O. Opowoye     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Abdulmumin Yinka Ajia     Jare Olatundun     Gbemisola Saraki     Kwara University Of Education     Usman Yunusa     Idris Garba     Ibrahim Taiwo Road     Ilofa     Ahmad Olanrewaju Belgore     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Oke-Ero     GANZY     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Ahmed Dankaya     Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners     AbdulHamid Adi     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Seni Saraki    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     JAAC     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Babaita     Young Progressives Party     AGM Professional Services     Umar Ahmed Gunu     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Curfew     KWTV     Elerin Of Adanla     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Babaloja-General     Olayinka Olaogun     Ifelodun     Alapado     2017 Budget     Gobir     Third Estate     Okiki     Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita     Baba Adini Of Kwara State     Amada Jidda     Aliyu Adebayo     Lanre Badmus     Omar Bolaji Gambari     Kisira     Shuaibu Yaman     Fulani     Yemi Sanni     Ahmed Dankaya     Arca Santa     Kunle Akogun     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Wahab Issa     Olupako     Saliu Oluwole     Omu Aran     Mutawalle     Ahmad Belgore     Eleja     Risikat Lawal     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Reuben Paraje     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants     Yahaya Jibril Usman     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Yemi Osinbajo     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Babata     Erubu Oba Zubair     Theophilus Oyebiyi     Sa\'adu Salau     Ogbondoroko     UTME     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Sidikat Uthman Ajibola     Taibat Ayinke Ahmed     Folaranmi Aro     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Adaramaja     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Democracy Day     Olofa Of Offa     Ibrahim Abiodun     Modupe Oluwole     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Bashirat Bola Bello     Sambo Murtala     Share-Tsaragi     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Kola Olota     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Azeez Bello     Abdulwahab Ololele     All Peoples Party