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The Kwara State House of Assembly has given the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) a one-week ultimatum to enhance its services in the state.
This ultimatum was issued during a session where senior management staff of IBEDC, who were summoned, appeared before the House Committee on Energy at the assembly complex in Ilorin, the state capital.
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According to reports, many residents of Ilorin, particularly those in the downtown area, have experienced prolonged power outages for more than two weeks without any clear explanations from the electricity company. Consequently, residents, especially fasting Muslims, have had to endure extreme heat day and night due to the absence of electricity for their domestic needs.
The House had previously raised a motion on March 19, 2024, highlighting the need to address the poor service of IBEDC and mitigate the alleged extortionist behavior of its staff in the state.
As a result, the committee on Energy, chaired by Hon. Seun Ogunniyi, was tasked with inviting the senior management team of IBEDC to discuss the issues surrounding inadequate electricity supply and distribution in the state.
Subsequently, the management of IBEDC was summoned to address the committee last Monday. During the session, the legislators criticized the electricity company’s poor service delivery and its negative impact on the economic and social well-being of the state’s residents.
The committee emphasized the urgent need for improvement in electricity service delivery and raised concerns about various issues related to power supply in the state, including low energy allocation, frequent load shedding, lack of pre-paid meters, and excessive estimated billing.
Additionally, the legislature demanded that IBEDC demonstrate a commitment to repairing malfunctioning transformers, restoring public confidence, and improving community and stakeholder relations.
Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company management was instructed to provide actionable plans to address the issues raised within one week. In a statement released on March 10, 2024, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company cited an increase in energy theft, with over 1,450 identified cases between January and February 2024, as a significant factor contributing to poor power supply in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti states.
