In Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, community leaders from Apete, Awotan, Araromi, Akufo, and Ajibode, as well as other nearby areas, have begun to fight against a seven-week blackout in their communities.
The communities expressed regret that the Ibadan energy Distribution Company, or IBEDC, had disconnected their energy for seven weeks, causing significant harm to the impacted areas.
According to information obtained by the DAILY POST, some residents of the impacted towns peacefully protested the inconsistent electricity supply in their areas on Saturday.
The communities have now taken to the media to denounce the apparent punishment and complete blackout after the electrical provider disconnected them from the national grid as a result of the protest.
Rasaki Fabayo, the president of the Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi and Environs Community Development Association, and Mr. Ademuyiwa Oluwole, the secretary, told reporters Thursday in Awotan that the IBEDC had closed its Apete office, which eliminated the only way for locals to file complaints, settle billing disputes, and communicate with their representatives.
In order to continue operations and restore customer access, the spokespersons urged the IBEDC to reopen its Apete office and demand an immediate reconnection of the power supply to the impacted villages.
They called for sanctions and regulatory penalties on the erring officers and responsible units to serve as deterrent to similar abuses in future.
The communities also called for immediate cessation of selective connection and diversion of the NIPP feeder to privileged individuals to the detriment of the larger community.
“On 14th April, 2025, members of our community, acting within their constitutional rights, staged a peaceful protest to the IBEDC office in Apete. This protest was conducted in the full presence and protection of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The protest was peaceful, orderly, and focused solely on registering our long-standing grievances over epileptic power supply and lack of service delivery by IBEDC for several years, despite the community’s consistent payments and numerous written complaints.
“Instead of addressing the issues raised, IBEDC responded in the most draconian and retaliatory manner: they disconnected the entire Ajibode – Apete, Awotan, Araromi and Environs from electricity supply, throwing thousands of homes, businesses, and students – especially from the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan – into darkness. They shut down their Apete office, thereby cutting off the only access point for our residents to lodge complaints, resolve billing issues, and engage with their officials. Most disturbingly, they began to spread false claims in the media and public spaces that their office was closed due to threats to the lives of their staff. We state emphatically and for the record that: There was no violence. There was no threat. There was no attack. The protest was peaceful, monitored by security agencies, and marked by civility.
“We are here to make the following demands: Immediate reconnection of power supply to the entire Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi and Environs. Public retraction of the false claims of threats against IBEDC staff. Reopening of the IBEDC Apete office, to resume services and restore customer access. A full investigation into the actions of the IBEDC Apete officials responsible for the disconnection. Sanctions and regulatory penalties to be imposed on the erring officers and the undertaking unit, to serve as deterrent to similar abuses in future. Completion and activation of the NIPP infrastructure for the benefit of the entire Ajibode, Apete, Awotan, Araromi and Environs as originally intended.
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