Osogbo residents gathered in large numbers and stormed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) headquarters to express their displeasure with the intolerable and epileptic power supply in the state capital and surrounds.
WITHIN NIGERIA had earlier learned that some youths in Ikirun, a neighboring town, protested against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) on Saturday due to ongoing outages and poor service.
The protesters, who were primarily young people, were seen holding placards with many inscriptions and chanting solidarity songs while demanding a more stable and improved power supply in Osogbo, the state capital.
Sulaimon Akinbinu, a resident and owner of a cybercafé, told WITHIN NIGERIA that the distribution firm was handling their complaints with kids’ gloves, which prompted the pockets of protest.
According to Akinbinu, community leaders had written numerous letters to the IBEDC requesting a review of the minimal or low electrical supply issue, but they did not take action.
Akinbinu, while bemoaning personal losses incurred since the electrical crisis began, told WITHIN NIGERIA that he had no choice but to purchase fuel at #890 per liter to operate his generator.
He asked the federal government and appropriate regulatory bodies to intervene and settle the issue.
Wasiu Olayinka, another resident while conversing with WITHIN NIGERIA, accused IBEDC of neglecting consumers in permanent darkness.
According to Olayinka, it is blatant irresponsibility for IBEDC to ignore consumers while continuing issuing estimated and prepaid bills.
He revealed that some enterprises, particularly small-scale ones, have suffered losses as a result of epileptic power supplies.
“There is no functional system in the country. We pay for services we don’t enjoy and no one can be held responsible. In a saner society, IBEDC would have been asked to pay damages to affected consumers,” he stated.
Segun Yusuf, a resident and laundryman, told WITHIN NIGERIA that he had to stop what he was doing when he heard that some people are protesting IBEDC over epileptic power supply.
Yusuf told WITHIN NIGERIA that his washing business nearly failed owing to epileptic power supplies.
“I needed to meet a deadline with consumers. I had no alternative except to purchase fuel and use my generator to iron these clothes, which drained my profits”.
“My story is similar to hundreds of business owners in Osogbo who have been severely impacted by the epileptic power supply,” he added.
Gbenga Owolabi, an economist and public analyst, expressed worry to WITHIN NIGERIA over the country’s poor electrical supply.
Owolabi argued that we cannot continue to preach economic prosperity through local production while ignoring indices that would provide a conducive climate for business growth.
According to Owolabi, frequent outages and poor service will stifle local development because industries rely greatly on reliable electricity.
He also claimed that many businesses have failed, and business owners are sobbing hysterically since they are no longer making money and would prefer to use their earnings to fund dependable electrical alternatives in order to keep their businesses running.
Demilade Akinola, an activist, told WITHIN NIGERIA that despite billions of naira invested in the power sector, Nigeria continues to struggle with electricity.
While expressing his concerns, Akinola stated that all public servants should be embarrassed of themselves for failing to resolve the electrical issue for years.
According to Akinola, the power sector was privatized in 2013 to address electricity issues, yet challenges remain despite being handled by private investors.
He also accused the electrical firm of raising tariffs, forcing Nigerians to pay for services they don’t utilize.
He urged the federal government and relevant institutions to act and free the people from the clutches of distribution firms that are milking Nigerians.
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