In a dramatic protest, two masquerades led a group of angry youths in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, on Friday, to reject the recent hike in electricity bills and the controversial move from Band C to Band A electricity tariff by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The protest, which took place at Bareke Roundabout in Irepodun Local Government Area, saw residents carrying placards with inscriptions like “Omu-Aran Says No to Band A”, “Bring Us Back to Band C”, and “Omu-Aran Youths Have Spoken Loudly”.
According to protesters, the sudden tariff band upgrade led to a sharp increase in bills, with some residents reportedly receiving charges between ₦41,000 to ₦47,000 for March 2025, compared to their usual ₦10,000–₦15,000 range.
The demonstrators, chanting war songs, marched through major areas including Olomu Market, Latinwo Market, Olomu Palace, and the IBEDC District Office inside Omu-Aran City Complex. Highways like the Omu-Aran-Kabba and Omu-Aran-Otun-Ekiti roads were also blocked, leaving travelers stranded for hours.
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They rejected attempts by police and other security agencies to escort the protest, demanding an immediate return to Band C billing, improved power supply, and repair of faulty electricity transformers.
The President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, Niyi Adeyeye, released a statement listing the community’s demands:
- Immediate reversion from Band A to Band C
- Replacement of faulty transformers is causing inconsistent electricity
- Suspension of current Band A billings
- Proper review of IBEDC’s service delivery
- Stoppage of overdraft charges on prepaid meters
- End to customers buying materials for IBEDC equipment repairs
The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, received the protesters and appealed for calm, assuring that talks were ongoing with IBEDC to address the issues.
The protest highlights growing frustration among Nigerians over the rising cost of electricity and poor power supply despite high bills.
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