By Peterside Rejoice
Residents of Ireakari Community in Ilisan Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Saturday, took to the streets to protest against the alleged refusal of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to connect a transformer they funded and installed to the national grid.
The residents, who said they had endured over eight years of blackout, accused the power distribution company of frustrating their efforts despite spending more than N11 million on the project.
During the protest, the residents carried placards with inscriptions such as “Ireakari community is tired of pitch darkness,” “IBEDC, connect our transformer,” “Gov Dapo Abiodun, call IBEDC to order,” and “Give us light, not crazy bills.”
Speaking with journalists, the Secretary of the Ireakari Community Development Association, Mr. Taiwo Idowu, said the community raised funds for the installation after Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu donated a transformer in 2018.
“IBEDC officials inspected the transformer and certified it fit. We went ahead to buy poles, cables, and all necessary materials. After spending over N11 million, we completed the installation in June and invited IBEDC to connect it. To our surprise, they claimed the transformer was refurbished and refused to energise it,” Idowu said.
He lamented that the community had written several letters to IBEDC’s offices in Sagamu and Ibadan, but no action had been taken.
“We have suffered power outage for more than eight years. Now that we tried to solve the problem ourselves, IBEDC has become a stumbling block. We appeal to Governor Dapo Abiodun and Ikenne Local Government Chairman, Hon. Jamiu Ashimi, to intervene,” he added.
The head of the community, Chief Adeyemo Sofola, also lamented the prolonged power outage, saying it had crippled economic activities and worsened insecurity.
“Many of our people have closed their businesses because of lack of electricity. We are pleading with the government to help us. IBEDC must not continue to keep us in darkness,” Sofola said.
A resident, Mrs. Janet Oluwatoyin, described the situation as unbearable, noting that the community had been neglected for too long.
“Over 3,000 residents contributed money for this transformer. We have lost so much already. The governor should please help us,” she appealed.
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Ilisan Remo, Alhaji Aderemi, urged the state government and local authorities to take swift action, stressing that the situation had affected businesses and daily life in the community.
Chairman of the Ilisan Development Association, Otunba Wemmy Osude, condemned IBEDC’s handling of the matter, describing it as “insensitive and inhumane.”
“These residents have spent millions to restore electricity, yet IBEDC has refused to connect the transformer. There can be no meaningful development in darkness,” Osude said.
However, the Public Relations Officer of IBEDC, Ogun Region, Mr. Yomi Bada, denied the allegations, saying the community only contacted the company after the transformer had been installed.
“Our technical team inspected the transformer and found it to be refurbished and substandard. It doesn’t meet our network specifications, so it cannot be certified for use,” Bada explained.
He added that the company was exploring possible ways to assist the community within its operational limits.
The residents, however, vowed to continue their protest until electricity is restored to the community, calling on the Ogun State Government to intervene and compel IBEDC to connect the transformer to the grid.
About Author
