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Residents from the Ireakari community in Ilisan Remo, within the Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, demonstrated on Saturday against the reported refusal by staff from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to link their transformer to the national grid, despite spending over N11 million on its setup.

The demonstrators held signs that read, “The Ireakari community is fed up with total darkness,” “IBEDC, bring electricity to our transformer,” “Gov Dapo Abiodun, tell IBEDC to act responsibly,” and “IBEDC, provide us with power, not unreasonable charges.”

They expressed sorrow that the unpredictable electricity supply and regular power cuts had halted business operations in the region and increased safety concerns, resulting in cases of armed theft and other criminal activities.

During the demonstration, Mr. Taiwo Idowu, the Secretary of the Ireakari Community Development Association, stated, “In addressing the issue of unreliable electricity supply in our area, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu provided us with a transformer in 2018.”

We invited representatives from IBEDC to examine it. They conducted an inspection and confirmed it was suitable for use, so we started collecting money among ourselves for the installation.

We purchased poles, cables, and all necessary equipment. We have invested more than N11m, and after the installation was finished in June, we reached out to IBEDC to link the transformer to the power grid.

However, to our surprise, they mentioned that the transformer was reconditioned. We were confused since they had previously examined and authorized it for installation.

How can they now assert it’s been refurbished and refuse to link it? We have sent multiple letters to their offices in Sagamu and Ibadan, but no action has been taken.

Our neighborhood has endured unreliable electricity for more than eight years. Having used our hard-earned funds to address the issue, IBEDC has once again emerged as an obstacle. The damages we’ve incurred over the years are immeasurable.

We are calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun and the Chairman of Ikenne Local Government, Hon. Jamiu Ashimi, to assist us. The hardship is unbearable. The government can either supply us with another transformer or urge IBEDC to connect the one we already have.

The community’s leader, Chief Adeyemo Sofola, also expressed sorrow over the prolonged lack of electricity in the region, stating that it had severely affected the residents’ means of living and hindered the community’s social and economic development.

Sofola urged Abiodun and Ashimi to either supply a new transformer or take action to ensure IBEDC links the current one.

In the same way, a local resident, Mrs. Janet Oluwatoyin, criticized the behavior of IBEDC officials and urged immediate government action.

She stated, “The reality is that the community’s population, exceeding 3,000 people, is not satisfied. The hardship has become unbearable.”

Our businesses have faced challenges, but we still donated over N11m to install the transformer. Now IBEDC is making excuses. We are upset and are appealing to our father in the state, Governor Abiodun, for assistance. We cannot stay in darkness forever.

The head imam of Ilisan Remo, Alhaji Aderemi, who is also a resident of the area, urged both the governor and the council chairman—who hails from the community—to assist in bringing back reliable electricity, mentioning that numerous businesses had shut down because of the power issues.

The head of the Ilisan Development Association, Otunba Wemmy Osude, who spoke to the demonstrators, criticized IBEDC’s approach to the matter, calling it indifferent to the struggles of the locals.

He stated, “I call on IBEDC to respond quickly to address the community’s needs. I also appeal to the government led by Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Ikenne Local Government headed by Hon. Jamiu Ashimi to assist these people and ease their suffering.”

It is impossible to achieve growth or socio-economic progress when individuals reside in darkness despite investing over N11m of their hard-earned money on a transformer.

Nevertheless, the Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Ogun Region, Mr. Yomi Bada, denied the community’s assertions, stating that the company was not informed until after the transformer had been put in place.

He stated, “According to my findings, the community did not reach out to IBEDC when the transformer was donated. It was only after the contractor had finished the installation and was about to activate it that they contacted us.”

When our technical team examined it, they found out it was a reconditioned transformer, not the model utilized in our system. This kind of transformer is not eligible for certification as it does not meet the required standards.

Bada mentioned that he would reach out to the regional manager of the distribution company to look into potential methods of supporting the community.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).