By ABDULKABIR MUHAMMED

The Ajibode-Apete-Awotan-Araromi & Environs Community Development Association (CDA) has condemned an ?unlawful disconnection? of its electricity supply by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) recently. The community criticised this IBEDC action through a press statement signed by its president, Engr. Rasak Fabayo, and its secretary, Ademuyiwa Oluwole, on Friday, 26 June 2025. IBEDC has also closed its office in the area.

The community claimed That IBEDC?s actions were vindictive of a recent protest staged by members of the community against the power distribution company, and ?have caused widespread hardship, unrest, and misinformation.?

In the press statement, the community stated that they staged a protest on May 10, 2025, at the company?s office in Apete to express their discontent with the epileptic power supply in the community.

?This protest was conducted in the full presence and protection of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The prote?t was peaceful, orderly, and focused solely on registering our long-standing grievances over epileptic power supply and lack of service delivery by IBEDC for several years, despite the community?s consistent payments and numerous written complaints,? they added.

The community accused IBEDC of responding in a rather vindictive and retaliatory manner:

?Instead of addressing the issues raised, IBEDC responded in the most draconian and retaliatory manner: they disconnected the entire AJIBODE-APETE-AWOTAN-ARAROMI & ENVIRONS from electricity supply, throwing thousands of homes, businesses, and students especially from the University of Ibadan and The Polytechnic, Ibadan into darkness. They shut down their Apete office, thereby cutting off the only access point for our residents to lodge complaints, resolve billing issues, and engage with their officials.?

It also said that IBEDC ?began to spread false claims in the media and public spaces that their office was closed due to threats to the lives of their staff.?

?We view the disconnection and the subsequent spread of falsehood as a calculated attempt to blackmail the community, avoid accountability, and punish innocent residents for exercising their civic rights. This action by IBEDC not only violates the principles of fairness and customer protection but also runs afoul of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) Customer Protection Regulations,? the statement read in part.

Going forward, the community has demanded a reconnection of the electricity supply to the village. They are also praying for a retraction of the false claims made by the company and a reopening of the IBEDC office in the area.

The Ajibode-Apete-Awotan-Araromi & Environs Community Development Association?s demands are as follows:

1. Immediate reconnection of power supply to the entire AJIBODE-APETE-AWOTAN- ARAROMI & ENVIRONS.

2. Public retraction of the false claims of threats against IBEDC staff.

3. Reopening of the IBEDC Apete office, to resume services and restore customer access.

4. A full investigation into the actions of the IBEDC Apete officials responsible for the disconnection.

5. Sanctions and regulatory penalties to be imposed on the erring officers and the undertaking unit, to serve as deterrent to similar abuses in future.

6. Completion and activation of the NIPP infrastructure for the benefit of the entire AJIBODE-APETE-AWOTAN-ARAROMI & ENVIRONS as originally intended.

7. Immediate cessation of selective connection and diversion of the NIPP feeder to privileged individuals to the detriment of the larger community

8. A structured stakeholders? dialogue between IBEDC leadership and representatives of the AJIBODE-APETE-AWOTAN-ARAROMI & ENVIRONS to address the root causes of the crisis. We urge all regulatory bodies, especially the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the Honourable Minister of Power, to take urgent steps to investigate this matter and hold IBEDC accountable.

Update news