IBADAN – Not less than 80 communities under the umbrella body of Iwo Road/ Lalupon Feeder Electricity Consumer Association, in Ibadan have alleged that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company intentionally threw their communities into darkness.
The leaders of the affected communities in Saturday made the allegation during an extended meeting of the association on how to fashion out ways of resolving the 10 years of erratic power supply….CONTINUE READING
According to the association chairman, Rev. Jide Kehinde, the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) decided to summon the meeting to have public engagement with the communities because of the electricity problem in the area.
“We thought they would be able to allay the fear of the people and tell them what they want at the meeting but none of the IBEDC staff showed up at the meeting and we felt disappointed.
“With this development, we have realised that IBEDC intentionally thrown us into darkness since 2011 because the company has refused to cooperate with us on way forward, instead they are interested in outrageous billings for electricity not consumed.
“We have resolved in our meeting today that IBEDC should link us to Iwo transmission station as suggested by the National Electricity Regulatory Council (NERC) when we brought our complaints before the council.
“NERC in its wisdom realised that linking Iwo Road/Lalupon feeder to Iwo transmission station is the only solution to the erratic electricity supply being experienced by the consumers in the affected communities.”
Recounting previous efforts made to ensure that IBEDC links the Lalupon feeder to Iwo transmission station, Kehinde said the communities decided to contribute money for the execution of the projects “but IBEDC refuse to give approval to execute the project.
“We have been waiting for the approval since March but IBEDC keep on promising that they will do it, without any positive response.”
He said the communities have therefore, called on IBEDC to give them power supply without further delay, “as they are giving other feeders” and that their feeder should be metered.
They also declared that they would no longer pay on estimated bill “because we are on band E, which is N32.26 per 4hours/day, Not band C, which is N65.97 per 8 hours/day.”
The chairman further revealed that heads of the various communities present at the meeting resolved that they no longer have confidence in the announcement and activities of IBEDC toward their respective communities.
“Thus the association shall not be held responsible for the breakdown of law and order and the peace that exists between IBEDC and their communities due to the company’s inefficiency,” he said.
A cross section of the community heads and residents who spoke with newsmen at the end of the meeting lamented that their communities had been experiencing erratic power supply in the last 10 years without any concrete solution from IBEDC.
The traditional ruler of Lagun community, Chief Olalekan Bello accused IBEDC of being insensitive to their plight saying that the epileptic power supply had led to closure of businesses in his community.
Bello said many artisans using electricity to power their businesses have closed shops due to the power supply problem.
On his part, Alhaji Laidi Adesina, vice chairman of Wakajaye community said the kind of treatment they were receiving from IBEDC was annoying, saying that the erratic power supply has created serious security challenge within his community.
Adesina said majority of houses in the entire community were empty because their tenants have packed out because they could not cope with the prolonged black out.
He urged IBEDC to show concern about the plight of the affected communities by taking concrete steps to address the erratic electricity supply in the area.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Ms Busolami Tunwase refuted the claim that the company was less concerned about the erratic electricity supply in the affected communities.
According to Tunwase, no DISCO will deliberately keep any community in darkness, the supply situation in Lalupon is as a result of the network area.
“The lengthy feeder is susceptible to frequent fault, our maintenance unit has been mandated to ensure that all faults are cleared promptly. We apologise for all inconveniences,” she stated….CONTINUE READING
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