Monday, December 29, 2025 -Residents of the Ireakari community in Ilisan Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, staged a protest for the second time in two months on Saturday over what they described as a decade-long erratic power supply, despite contributing over N11m to install a transformer.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as
“Gov Dapo Abiodun, save us from pitch darkness,” “We celebrated Christmas in
darkness,” “Gov Abiodun, please help us; this suffering is too much,” and
“IBEDC has failed us; Gov Abiodun, come to our rescue,” among others.
Community members said they were compelled to embark on
another peaceful protest because, despite assurances from a state government
official who visited the community a day after the first protest, they had
continued to live in darkness.
Speaking during the protest, the community head, Chief
Adeyemo Sofola, said residents were frustrated by years of neglect.
“We are forced to come out again today to express our pain
and frustration because we are tired of living in darkness since 2016,” Sofola
said.
He explained that, in a bid to resolve the problem, former
lawmaker Ladi Adebutu donated a transformer to the community in 2018, which
officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company certified as
serviceable.
“We then raised over N11m, which was used to purchase cables
and poles and for the installation of the transformer.
“However, when IBEDC officials were supposed to energise it,
they claimed it was refurbished and therefore not fit for use,” he said.
Sofola described the situation as painful, noting that it
was the same officials who initially certified the transformer as good.
“This was why we protested two months ago. After that
protest, an engineer who said he was sent by the governor visited our community
and promised that a new transformer would be provided before the end of that
week. More than two months later, nothing has happened,” he added.
According to him, residents celebrated Christmas in total
darkness, businesses have collapsed, and living conditions have become
unbearable.
“We are begging Governor Abiodun, our son from Ikenne Local
Government, to help us. We do not want to enter 2026 in this terrible
situation. Let the new transformer be our end-of-year gift from the
government,” he appealed.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Ilisan Remo and a resident
of the community, Alhaji Sarafadeen Aderemi, said the poor power supply in the
community, which houses over 4,000 residents, had caused incalculable
socio-economic damage.
“After our protest two months ago, a government official
assured us that the governor was aware of our plight and that we would get a
new transformer within a week, but nothing has happened,” Aderemi said.
He lamented that the blackout had crippled businesses and
daily life, especially during the festive season.
“We cannot charge our phones, pump water, or run our
businesses. Artisans cannot work, and the dry season heat is unbearable because
we cannot even use fans. It is a horrible situation,” he added.
The secretary of the Ireakari community, Taiwo Idowu, also
appealed to the governor for urgent intervention.
“We were happy when someone from the government contacted us
after the first protest and promised that a new transformer would be provided
within a week. More than two months later, there is nothing in sight,” Idowu
said.
He noted that many residents had relocated due to years of
neglect, adding that the community felt abandoned and frustrated.
Janet Olaifa, who spoke on behalf of the women, urged the
governor to restore electricity to the community.
“We are protesting again because of this dehumanising
blackout that has lasted for over a decade. Our businesses have collapsed, and
many families are suffering. We beg the governor to fulfil his promise and give
us a transformer,” she said.
Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of IBEDC in
Ogun State, Yomi Bada, were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were unanswered
as of the time of filing this report.
However, Bada had told our correspondent two months ago that
IBEDC officials were not contacted when the transformer was donated and only
discovered it was substandard when it was brought for energisation.
He added that the company would explore possible ways to
assist the community.
0 Comments