Omu-Aran Residents Protest Electricity Bill Hikes Amid IBEDC's Billing Reclassification
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.
Oyawoye Niyi Osundare NIRSAL Abubakar Baba Abubakar Aliagan Oye Tinuoye Yusuf Amuda Abubakar Ayeyemi Sulaiman Nigeria Computer Society Kubra Kazum NULGE Bareke Adanla-Irese Emir Of Lafiagi Aso Ofi Elerin Of Erin-Ile Bursary Niguel Gallando Marcias Rebecca Bake Sa\'adu Salahu Ekiti Salau Kabiru Abdullahi Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin Muritala Awodun Admiralty Villa Lawan Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen Oja-Oba ASMAU PLAZA Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa State Bureau Of Internal Revenue Erubu Oba Zubair Owode Market Balogun Ajikobi Femi Agbaje Michael Nzekwe Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab Boko Haram Aso-ofi Shaykh Luqman Jimoh Ishola Moses Abiodun PharmAccess Foundation Opolo Global Innovation Limited UNILORIN Alumni Association Muhammadu Buhari David Oyepinola Adedumoye Binta Abubakar Mora TESCOM 2025 Makama Aremu Odolaye YAKOOYO Eleja Taiwo Banu Saka Balikis Kehinde Islamic Development Bank Toyin Falola UNILORIN Alumni Buari Edun Oko-Erin Imodoye Writer’s Enclave Adesoye College Trade Lenda SME Fair Senior Staff Union Of Colleges Of Education Jide Ashonibare Elerinjare Abdulmajeed Abdullahi Kolo Mujtabah Bature Kayode Oyin Zubair Moses Rahman Popoola Abubakar Baba Sulaiman Al-Adaby Bolakale Saka Lotus Bank Aishatu Ahmed Gobir Adijat Adebiyi High Court Share/Tsaragi

