Osun State Map
Hundreds of residents in Osogbo on Wednesday marched to the Osun Regional Office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) demanding improved electricity supply. Protesters gave the company a seven-day ultimatum to restore affected communities to Band A classification.
The demonstrators gathered at Oke Baale, moving through Station Road before reaching the IBEDC office. Chants and solidarity songs echoed as heavily armed security officers monitored the protest.
Akeem Badmus, reading a letter on behalf of the “United Communities,” highlighted persistent power outages in areas including Owo-Eba, Garage Ilesa, Tara, Oke-Baale, UNIOSUN axis, Air Force Base, and Army Depot. He said communities now on Band C receive only four hours of electricity per day on average, far below the 12–16 hours prescribed by the Electricity Distribution Service Reflective Tariff framework.
“Residents face severe hardship. Small businesses are collapsing, and institutions like the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation can operate less than six hours daily,” Badmus said.
Ifeanyi Ikeji, IBEDC’s Osun Regional Head, explained the downgrade was due to supply constraints. “We cannot currently meet Band A requirements of 20 hours daily. Once the situation improves, we will restore the classification,” Ikeji said.
This protest mirrors recent demonstrations in Benin City, Edo State, over blackouts and billing disputes, reflecting growing public frustration with electricity distribution in Nigeria.
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