Residents of Ayetoro in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State have issued a stern ultimatum to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) regarding what they decry as six months of uninterrupted blackouts in their community.
Under the banner of the Yewa North Patriotic Forum, the residents have given a two-week ultimatum to the IBEDC to restore power to Ayetoro and 12 other neighboring communities within the local government area. Expressing dismay over the perceived lackadaisical attitude of the power company, the youth of the community conveyed their grievances through an open letter addressed to various stakeholders, including the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
The letter, signed by the president of the Yewa North Patriotic Forum, Adeyemi Sunday, outlined the dire situation faced by Ayetoro and its surrounding areas, where electricity supply has been absent for over six months. Additionally, the youth group highlighted that several other communities in the region, such as Igbogila, Ibese, Joga Orile, and Imasayi, among others, have endured a lack of electricity for the past two years.
In response to their demands being rebuffed by the IBEDC office in Abeokuta, the state capital, the group has threatened to stage protests and picket IBEDC offices within and outside Yewa North if the situation is not rectified within the stipulated timeframe.
Expressing their frustration and increasing hardship caused by the prolonged blackout, the group implored Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene urgently, emphasizing the detrimental impact on businesses and livelihoods in the affected communities.
The IBEDC spokesperson, Busolami Tunwase, attributed the electricity challenges in Ogun State to restricted allocation, indicating that the DisCo can only distribute what it has. Despite the limitations, Tunwase assured residents of collaborative efforts with other stakeholders to improve the situation and apologized for the inconvenience caused.