Ibadan residents lament seven-week electricity blackout, demand restoration

By Adejayan Gbenga –

Residents of Apete, Awotan, Araromi, Akufo, Ajibode, and neighboring communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, have expressed frustration over a prolonged electricity blackout that has lasted seven weeks.

The residents blamed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for disconnecting power to their communities, which they said has caused significant hardship to homes, businesses, and students.

President of the Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi and Environs Community Development Association, Rasaki Fabayo, and Secretary, Ademuyiwa Oluwole, alleged that IBEDC also shut down its Apete office, cutting off their only access point to lodge complaints and resolve billing issues.

They demanded the immediate reconnection of power supply to the affected communities and called for the reopening of the IBEDC Apete office to restore customer service.

The community leaders further called for sanctions against the IBEDC officers responsible, accusing them of diverting the NIPP feeder to serve privileged individuals at the expense of the larger community.

Fabayo explained that on April 14, 2025, residents staged a peaceful protest at the IBEDC Apete office, monitored by police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), to express long-standing grievances over poor service despite regular bill payments.

“Instead of resolving the issues, IBEDC retaliated by disconnecting the entire community and spreading false claims that their staff were threatened during the protest. For the record, there was no violence, no threats, and the protest was peaceful and orderly,” he said.