Ikenne Community Protests Over IBEDC’s Delayed Connection Of Transformer Despite ₦11 Million Investment
By Oludare Joshua
Residents of the Ireakari community in Ilisan Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State staged a spirited protest on Saturday, October 21, 2025, voicing their frustrations over the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for allegedly refusing to connect their newly installed transformer to the national grid. The community spent over N11 million on this installation, yet has faced continued darkness and erratic power supply.
The demonstrators carried various placards emblazoned with messages such as “Ireakari community is tired of pitch darkness,” “IBEDC, connect light to our transformer,” “Gov. Dapo Abiodun, call IBEDC to order,” and “IBEDC, give us light, not crazy bills.” The protest underscored the long-lasting impacts of inconsistent power supply, which have hindered local businesses and contributed to rising insecurity, including incidents of armed robbery.
During the protest, Mr. Taiwo Idowu, Secretary of the Ireakari Community Development Association, articulated the community’s grievances. “In an effort to resolve our long-standing power supply challenges, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu generously donated a transformer to us in 2018. After receiving approval from IBEDC, we proceeded to raise funds for its installation,” he explained.
”We invested in poles, cables, and other necessary components, totaling over N11 million. However, after completing the installation in June, IBEDC claimed the transformer was refurbished and refused to connect it. This is perplexing, as they had previously certified it fit for use. Our repeated attempts to communicate with their offices in Sagamu and Ibadan have been met with silence,” Idowu lamented.
The community, having endured poor power supply for more than eight years, now seeks intervention from both Governor Dapo Abiodun and local government Chairman Hon. Jamiu Ashimi. Idowu emphasized, “The government could either provide us with a new transformer or pressure IBEDC to connect the one we have. Our suffering cannot continue.”
Chief Adeyemo Sofola, the community leader, echoed these sentiments, urging immediate action to restore electricity, which he noted is essential for the socio-economic development of their community.
Residents’ frustrations were shared by Mrs. Janet Oluwatoyin, who spoke on behalf of the over 3,000 community members who feel neglected. “We have invested significantly in this transformer, yet we find ourselves still in darkness. We call upon the governor to help us; we cannot live in darkness indefinitely,” she stated.
Alhaji Aderemi, the Chief Imam of Ilisan Remo, also urged for the governor and the council chairman to intervene, highlighting the negative impact of the power crisis on local businesses.
Otunba Wemmy Osude, Chairman of the Ilisan Development Association, criticized IBEDC’s response to the community’s plight. “IBEDC must act swiftly to meet our demands. There can be no growth or socio-economic development in darkness, especially after our community has invested over N11 million,” he declared.
In response to the community’s accusations, Mr. Yomi Bada, the Public Relations Officer for IBEDC, denied the claims, stating, “The community did not contact IBEDC until after the installation was completed. Our team found that the transformer was refurbished and unsuitable for our network.” Bada pledged to reach out to the regional head of IBEDC to explore potential ways to assist the community.
The protest reflects a growing sense of urgency among the residents of Ireakari, who are determined to shed light on their plight and seek a lasting solution to their power supply challenges.
