In a dramatic demonstration on Friday, two masquerades led a group of youths in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, to protest the recent hike in electricity bills. The protest, which saw youths chanting and dancing in traditional fashion, was sparked by the sudden reclassification of the community’s electricity billing from Band C to Band A, resulting in significantly higher charges.
The protestors, who gathered at Bareke Roundabout, were seen holding placards with bold messages such as “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A” and “Revert Omu-Aran to Band C,” voicing their discontent with the abrupt shift in billing categories. Many locals are now facing electricity bills between N41,000 and N47,000 for March 2025, a sharp increase from the previous charges of N10,000 to N15,000.
According to the protestors, the sudden reclassification has led to outrage among residents, especially given the inconsistent electricity supply in the community. They also pointed to unresolved issues like frequent power outages and faulty transformers that continue to affect the area.
The demonstration, which took place across various locations, including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market, and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) district office in the Omu-Aran City Complex, saw major highways such as the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti routes blocked. The protests caused long delays for motorists and travelers, with some being stuck for hours.
A statement signed by Niyi Adeyeye, the President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, outlined the protesters’ demands. These include a return to the previous Band C billing, replacement of faulty transformers, improved electricity supply, and a review of the current charges to reflect the old regime. Additionally, the community has called for the suspension of overdraft purchases on prepaid meters and a halt to the practice of consumers being asked to buy materials for faulty electrical equipment.
In response to the unrest, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, met with the protesters and appealed for calm. He assured the youths that the community leadership was already engaging with IBEDC officials to find a resolution to the issue. He urged the youths to remain patient and allow time for the intervention to take place.
The protests are expected to continue until the community’s demands are addressed, with local leaders working to resolve the ongoing electricity challenges.