30 Kwara Communities, IBEDC in Showdown over Power Supply

By Tope Sunday, Ilorin

About 30 communities in Ilorin metropolis in Kwara State and the management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) are spurring for war over poor power supply.

The communities under the auspices of the Joint Communities Development Association, had declared “NO LIGHT, NO PAYMENT, NO DISTRIBUTION OF BILL” rule against IBEDC since October, 2015.

The affected communities are: Adeta, Bani, Oloje, Ita Merin, Anifowoshe, Olomoda, Tegbesun, Agbarigidomo, Abayawo, Ogidi, Temidere, Gaa Osibi and Daada.

Others are: Foma, Baba Alaje, Sakale, Alfa Yahaya, Aromaradu, Alore, Ajetunmobi, Alubarika, Oke Ebo, Gaa Oke Idiemi, Irewumi, Odo Ire, Ajegunle, Ayekale, Madina, Owode and Amusa Agbarigidomo.

The spokesperson for the 30 affected communities, Engr. Salman Yusuf, vowed that they will not rescind their decision until the management of IBEDC accede to their request.

He accused the management of IBEDC of using divide and rule tactic to polarise the association by supplying some of the affected communities up to eight hours electricity in a day while other areas are subjected to black out.

He said the supply to Oloje feeder which is serving the affected communities was not evenly rationed among them.

The community said it had reported the matter to Consumer’ Protection Agency and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU),after several meetings with the authority of IBEDC failed to yield any positive results.

The community vowed to mobilise against any attempt to distribute bills for electricity not supply to them until IBEDC do the right thing.

But a management staff of IBEDC Ilorin office, who did not want his name in the media, denied all the allegations levelled against the company.

He explained that the company is rationing the power supply at its disposal among its consumers.