By Ebenezer Adurokiya
I am compelled to call out the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over strange recent developments in parts of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
I have had reasons in the recent past to call out IBEDC over the persistent blackout around the Barika/Agbowo axis, where electricity became as scarce as gold. For days, businesses in the area would suffer, and life became totally uninspiring. It was a bad idea to store anything in the freezer at the sight of electricity being restored, because, before long, the power would be off again.
I had further reasons to call out the Ibadan DISCO when distraught residents of the area called to complain to us. At one point, we gathered that IBEDC’s reason for plunging the area into darkness was the alleged fraudulent activities of some residents who consumed electricity but refused to pay their bills. We were also told that the Disco had discovered some illegal connections in the Barika area, hence the decision to starve residents of electricity.
What a primitive way of resolving a challenge that does not require rocket science to address!
However, it gladdens our hearts to inform the public that there appears to have been a tremendous improvement in electricity supply in the area, and indeed in most parts of Ibadan. The improvement began sometime in early September.
Initially, we were sceptical. This was because, in July and August, high-voltage surges occurred intermittently, with residents witnessing their electrical appliances being damaged. Phone chargers, fans, stabilisers, electric bulbs, decoders and several other appliances were affected. As we write, many of the victims are yet to have enough money to repair or replace their damaged items.
No apologies came from any quarters, and no satisfactory explanations were given, except the claim that the transformers supplying electricity to the residents were obsolete, with IBEDC apparently not ready to replace them.
But from early September, the situation appears to have turned around. It started with residents enjoying at least 12 hours of electricity per day. Gradually, this increased to about 18 hours or more. In fact, residents have enjoyed electricity consistently for over 48 hours at a stretch on some occasions.
This is unprecedented.
Deep freezers are now busy doing the job they were created to do. Residents can now store food in their freezers without fear. Even when there is an outage, they are confident that electricity will be restored in no time. The fear of the unknown is gone. They can now plan their time better. Anxiety is reduced.
This is significant, especially as the price of petrol, which residents struggle to buy to power their generating sets, continues to rise. Life and living would have remained even more difficult if IBEDC had not improved its electricity supply.
Checks also revealed that this is not an isolated case. Besides the Barika-Agbowo area, other areas such as Orogun, Bodija, Ojoo, Aroro Makinde, Moniya and Sango, among others, are enjoying relatively consistent electricity supply.
Businesses have seriously picked up in these areas. Artisans are having a field day.
Yes, residents are now complaining about the rapid depletion of their electricity units, particularly those who use prepaid metres. But which is better: a noisy, messy environment powered by costly petrol or a quiet environment with reliable public electricity supply?
If this is not one of the usual gimmicks associated with the forthcoming 2027 general elections, and if this is truly a sign of a system that is ready to work, then the Eldorado of industrialisation may finally be here.
My two-month stay in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, early this year, where electricity supply is reportedly available round the clock and public utilities operate with less stress, including public pipe-borne water, as well as my seven-day stay in Cotonou, the Republic of Benin, which also boasts relatively consistent electricity supply, make me hopeful.
I cannot but rejoice at the possibility that Nigeria is being reset and waking up to become what it has always been destined to be.
Better late than never.
To IBEDC, whatever you have got right to attain this level of improvement, please do not depart from it. Continue!
Be the change Nigeria has been yearning for.
Do not relent in attaining greater heights. Before long, let us begin to count months and years of consistent electricity supply in our country too.
Extend this new lease of life to other parts of your coverage areas.
Supply more customers with prepaid metres.
Replace obsolete transformers.
Carry out repairs on faulty ones.
Don’t milk the indigent clients to do this. Stop the alleged racketeering surrounding prepaid metres by your workers.
Meter all homes within your coverage areas.
Be considerate when increasing your tariffs. Remember that most Nigerians are still struggling to survive. Do not add to their burdens.
To IBEDC customers, stop fraudulent practices involving illegal connections. A working system deserves maintenance. Use what you pay for. Stop stealing electricity.
Let us make things work.
For other Discos, such as the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), the feedback coming from Warri, where we also operate, is one of sorrow and tears.
Stop the supply of darkness. Stop the shenanigans.
We enjoin you to emulate IBEDC.
Ebenezer Adurokiya writes from Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
