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.

Tafida     Abiodun Abdulkareem     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     New Nigeria People’s Party     GGDSS Pakata     Abdullah Janet Amudat     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     Elerin Of Adanla     Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa     Oluwatoyin Lukman     First Lady     International Aviation College     Haliru Dantoro     Shehu Alimi Foundation     Sulu Gambari     Muhammed Akanbi     Yekeen Alabi     Raliat AbdulRazaq     MINILS     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Abegunde Goke     Yusuf AbdulRasheed     Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency     Abubakar Aliagan     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Jaigbade Alao     Leke Ogungbe     Bureau Of Lands     Alanamu     Issa Oloruntogun     Wole Oke     Yetunde Balogun     Sayomi     Alaro     Danhawa     HYPPADEC     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Oro Grammar School     Balikis Jawondo     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Royal FM     Yomi Adeboye     Oko-Erin     Ajidagba     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Salami Adekunle     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     Sun Qing Rong     Ladi Hassan     Dan Masanin     Susan Modupe Oluwole     Muslimah Entrepreneurship Forum     Ojo Fadumila     Suleiman Idris     Maigida     Sango-UITH Road     EFCC     Lafiagi     Egbewole     Salman Alada     Halidu Danbaba     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Pilgrims Board     Yakubu Shaaba     Suleiman Abubakar     Olokoba Sulyman     High Court     Ilorin South     Moshood Mustapha     Kola Olota     Charcoal     Bashir Adigun     Forgo Battery     Bamidele Adegoke Oladimeji    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Abdulmumini Jawondo     Abdul-Rasheed Na\'Allah     Nnazua     UNILORIN Alumni     Law School Scholarship     A.O. Belgore     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     KWASEIC     Ita-Ore     Ilorin South     Michael Nzwekwe     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Akanji     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     FOMWAN     Mohammed Haruna     Baruten     Magaji Are     Christopher Odetunde     Ojuekun     Lanre Jimoh     Kehinde Boyede     Jumoke Gafar     Facebook     Ogidi-Oloje     NYSC     PharmAccess Foundation     Muhammed Aliyu     Ridwan Agboola     Osi     Jide Oyinloye     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Olabimpe Olani     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Adeleke Ogungbe     Alao Ayotunde     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Kubra Kazum     Oniwa     Pakata Development Association     Olatunji Bamgbola     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     Harafat E. Mukadam     Sola Saraki University     Mohammed Saidu     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Okiki     Ahmed     Sheriff Olanrewaju     Bola Olukoju     Jawondo     Olaitan Adefila     Egbewole     Kwara State Sports Commission     LABTOP     Olabode Towoju     Kwara Metro Park     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Omoniyi Ayinla     Dan Iya     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Muhammed Taofeeq Abdulrazaq     Isapa     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     Sunday Popo-Ola     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Mubarak Oladosu     Umar Danladi Shero     Mahmud Ajeigbe     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Jaiz Bank     Kayode Oyin-Zubair     Kupchi Hosea Maxwell