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.

LEAH Charity Foundation     UITH     Bola Magaji     Ibrahim Mohammed     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Obuh     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     Kunbi Titiloye     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Gobirawa     Sola Saraki University     Tsaragi     AGF Abdulrazaq     Yusuf Arowosaye     Afolabi-Oshatimehin Adenike Harriet     CUTI     Albert Ogunsola     Edu     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Ilorin Likeminds Foundation     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Abraysports FC     Mukhtar Shagaya     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Belgore     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Garba Ado Sanni     James Kolo     Balogun-Ojomu     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Mansur Alfanla     Monsurat Omotosho     Olawuyi     KWASSIP     Maigidasanma     Baba-Isale     Summit University     Col. Ibrahim Taiwo     Razak Atunwa     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla     Lawal Jimoh     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Bola Shagaya     Oke-Oyi     Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi     Muhammed Danjuma     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Oloye     Bayo Lawal     Saliu Ajibola Ajia     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Lai Mohammed     Elections     United Nigeria Airline     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Halimat Yusuf     Halidu Danbaba     Abatemi-Usman     Al-Ilory     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Plat Technologies Limited     Hussein Oloyede     Shade Omoniyi     N-Power     Admiralty Villa     Shaaba Lafiagi     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     Owo Arugbo     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Gbenga Adebayo     Face Masks     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Christopher Odetunde     Kwara Consultative Forum     Olabode Towoju     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Baruten     Obayomi Azeez     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Akeem Olatunji     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Maigida     Public Holiday     Balogin Alanamu     Taofeeq Olateju     Ahmed Dankaya     Student Learning Support Helpline     Kayode Yusuf     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Bello Oyebanji     Awoye     Kola Ologbondiyan     Zainab Abass     Ilorin Muslim Community     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Olabimpe Olani     Lanre Jimoh     Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education     Gbemi Saraki     Mohammed Kamaludeen     Earlyon Technologies     Lai Gobir     Nigeria Computer Society     CACOVID Palliatives     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Ibrahim Abdullahi     Abdulmajeed Abdullahi     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Ibrahim Taiwo     Principal Private Secretary     KFA     Abdulrahman Iliasu     Lukman Adeloyin     Tunde Yusuf     Isin     Okin Group     Ado Bayero     Bello Oyedepo     Yusuf Lawal     Yakubu Danladi     Third Estate     George Funsho Adebayo     AGILE Programme     Abioye Bello     Kassim Babamale     Temi Kolawole     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     Sa\'adu Salahu     Imam Gambari     Kayode Zubair     Bukola Saraki     Gani Saadu     Kwara Liberation Group     Ibrahim Oloriegbe     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Ishola Abdullahi     Patience Jonathan     Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao     Kisira     Joseph Bamigboye     Face Masks     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kawu     Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     CCEPE     Joshua Adeyemi Adimula     Bolaji Abdullahi     Sardauna