A unique form of protest took place in Kwara State on Friday when masquerades led a large group of youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area, to protest what they termed “outrageous electricity bills” and the sudden shift of the community’s billing from Band C to Band A.
The protest, organized by local youths, saw the masquerades leading the crowd to Bareke Roundabout in the heart of the town as early as 8 a.m. The demonstrators, who were carrying placards with various messages, were seen singing and dancing to traditional war songs.
Some of the placards carried slogans such as: “IBEDC Mr. Badmus Must Go,” “Omu-Aran Say No to Band A,” “Revert Omu-Aran to Band C,” and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly,” among others.
The protestors expressed frustration over the sudden reclassification of the electricity billing from Band C to Band A, which they blamed on the newly appointed Business Manager, Mr. A.O. Badmus. They claimed that this shift resulted in the inflated bills residents received for March. The protesters also argued that prior to the billing change, the community faced unresolved issues with unreliable electricity supply, which worsened after the new billing regime was imposed.
Despite their grievances, the protest remained peaceful, and the youths rejected attempts by the police and other security agencies to escort them. According to the protesters, the electricity bills they displayed ranged from N41,000 to N47,000 for the month of March, compared to the previous range of N10,000 to N15,000.
The demonstration saw the youths marching through key areas of the community, including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market Area, Olomu Palace, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) District Office located in the Omu-Aran City Complex.
The protestors also blocked major highways connecting Omu-Aran to neighboring states, including the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti highways, causing delays for motorists and travelers.
The youths vowed to continue their protest until their demands were addressed. Their key requests, outlined in a statement by the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Mr. Niyi Adeyeye, and Elder Ranti Adebayo, include:
Reverting the billing category from Band A back to Band C,
Improvement of electricity supply,
Resolution of issues related to faulty transformers in key areas,
Suspension of the Band A billing system,
Review of the current charges to reflect the previous rates,
Conducting an independent review of IBEDC’s service delivery in the community,
Halting the practice of consumers purchasing faulty electricity equipment and pre-paid meter overdrafts.
In response to the protests, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, called for calm when meeting with the protesters at his palace. The monarch assured the youths that community leaders had already begun talks with IBEDC officials to resolve the situation. He urged the youths to remain patient and wait for the outcome of these discussions.
While reaching the Omu-Aran IBEDC Business Manager Mr. A.O. Badmus, he declined to speak on the matter, directing inquiries to Mr. Gbenga Ajiboye, IBEDC’s Kwara State Communication Officer.
On reaching out to Ajiboye, he explained that the regulation of electricity tariffs was under the authority of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which oversees the classification of communities like Omu-Aran.
He noted that the 20-hour daily electricity supply enjoyed by Omu-Aran residents places the community in Band A, and emphasized that the issue was a business matter between the utility provider and consumers. High-level discussions are reportedly underway to find a resolution.
