Tension gripped the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company regional office in Osogbo, Osun State, on Wednesday as residents protested what they described as persistent poor electricity supply.
The demonstrators gathered at Oke Baale and marched through Station Road before converging on the company’s office. Heavily armed security operatives were deployed to guard the facility as protesters chanted solidarity songs and demanded improved power supply.
The residents issued a seven-day ultimatum, urging the company to restore affected communities to Band A classification. They warned that failure to comply would lead to “lawful and collective actions,” including restricting operational access for IBEDC personnel.
Speaking on behalf of the United Communities, protest leader Akeem Badmus presented a letter to the Osun regional head, Ifeanyi Ikeji. He said the protest followed a Feb. 28 meeting involving representatives from Owo-Eba, Garage Ilesa, Tara, Oke-Baale axis, OSBC area, UNIOSUN area, Air Force Base, Army Depot, Boredun, Coker, Odu and Omu, among others.
Badmus said the communities had experienced inadequate electricity supply since being downgraded from Bands A and B to Band C.
“Contrary to the Electricity Distribution Service Reflective Tariff framework, which stipulates 12 to 16 hours of daily supply for Band C customers, our communities receive an average of about four hours, with some days having no supply at all,” he said.
The letter, signed by Sulaiman Buruji, Atoyebi Akeem, Adebayo Oladepo and Oseni Abidemi, also referenced allegations that electricity meant for the communities was being diverted and sold.
“While we cannot independently verify these claims, the persistent and unexplained deprivation has fueled widespread suspicion and dissatisfaction,” Badmus said.
He added that the situation had negatively affected households and businesses, with some small-scale enterprises nearing collapse. He cited the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation as operating for fewer than six hours daily due to limited power supply.
Responding, Ikeji said the communities were downgraded because the company could not meet the required supply hours for Band A customers.
“As of today, electricity costs about N128. We would prefer to sell under Band A, but reclassification is determined by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission ,” he said.
He added that Band A customers are expected to receive up to 20 hours of electricity daily, a level the company could not sustain for the affected areas.
“When we placed you on Band A and could not meet the required hours, it was unjust to keep you on that band. That informed the downgrade. I apologize if residents were not aware,” Ikeji said.
He said the company would consider restoring the communities to Band A once power supply improves, but protesters insisted their demands must be met within seven days.
