Kwara communities demand improved electricity

Disturbed by epileptic power supply to their communities, concerned individuals and groups have called on electricity providers to supply enhanced power to them to alleviate their sufferings.

To this end, the consumers, under the aegis Joint community association inIlorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State have demanded atleast seven hours constant electricity supply daily from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, (IBEDEC) Baboko district.They also decried the recent increase in electricity tariffs without commensurate improvements in power supply, saying, they would no longer pay for unused electricity bills being served consumers.

Consequently, angry youths, under the aegis of Joint Community Associations, comprising33 communities, had, on Monday, embarked on protest to the Alore ServiceCentre in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, over worsening electricity supply to their communities, which they said had been on for several months.

The affected communities were Alore, Banni, Agbarigidoma Itamerin Olomoda,Tegbesun, Ogidi,Temidire, Ga Okee-Idi Emi, Dada, Gaa- Osbi, Foma , Baba-Alaje, Sakele and Ajegunle. Others were Abeemi ,Alfa Yahaya, Alubarika, Abayawo, Okeebo, Ayele,Madina,Owoe, Adeta, Ajetunmobi ,Sooto ,Guniyan, Oloje, Oju-Ekun and Anifowose.

The Daily Times observed that for more than three hours, the protesting youths locked out officialsOf the electricity firm, IBEDEC from the service centre in Ilorin.The protest by the community youths was the latest in the seriesembarked upon by youths in various communities, where similar blackout had been experienced. to the Monday’s protest, some youths in Baboko and Adabata area of Ilorin embarked on similar protest alleging ‘‘pilfering’’ of power installations by some people suspected to be IBEDEC officials ,a claim denied by the management of the company.

However, Vice President of the Joint Community Association, Mr. AbdulkadirSheu Magobon, who led other youths in the peaceful protest, accused of IBEDEC officials of carrying out ‘‘preferential treatment and injustice’’ against the affected communities.

He said they took the action because all emissaries sent to the Management of IBEDEC, both at the centre and Baboko district had not yielded any positive result. They said IBEDEC employees have failed to adhere to the schedule of electricity supply to the areas, despite several meetings held with the management both at Alore Service Centre and Baboko district to resolve the issue amicably.

Addressing the protesting youth, IBEDEC former Business Manager, Alhaji Mutalib Isiaka, said the youths have right to express themselves, if they were not satisfied with the company’s service; but cautioned against going violent.

Consequently, he asked them to pick representatives to dialogue with the management in which they initially rejected on the ground that several similar meetings have been held in the past but the company had always reneged on its promises.

After much persuasion from the former manager, the

youths eventually succumbed; and picked representatives, who held a meeting with the company; where they eventually agreed that seven hours of electricity supply in a day, would be ensured until the power situation in the country improves.