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BY ABIOLA RUFAI
The residents of Ilaro and its environ has call on President Muhammadu Buhari to kindly save them from the poor electricity services being rendered by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to over 50 communities in Yewa South local government of Ogun state.
In an interview with StarTrend Int’l magazine & www.startrendinternational.com after a stakeholders meeting with the representatives of Community Development Committee (CDC) and other groups across Yewa South local government of Ogun State, held recenrly in Ilaro, headquarters of Ogun West, those who spoke with our reporter lamented on how IBEDC was treating the residents of Ilaro and its environ with epilepsy power supply, saying, “what the company is after is collecting money through crazy estimated bills for the services not rendered.”
They said, “all what IBEDC is after is to collect money, money, money with crazy estimated bills for the services not rendered and also without effecting any improvement on the equiptment they inherited from PHCN, rather we are made to responsible for the the maintainnance of the obsolete electricity equiptment.”
An octogerian among the aggrieved stakeholders appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to use his good offices to rescue these communities from the appaling state of electricity supply to the ancient town of Ilaro which is the senatorial headquarters of Ogun West and its environ, saying, “IBEDC has failed and disappointed the area through its poor services to the communities.”
The senior citizen was of the opinion that the poles and wire that that transmit electricity from Papalanto to Ilaro and its environ are obseletes, adding that the route where the lines took since in the 50s is now bushy, and that equipment needs changing to modern ones.
“These obseletes equipment, apart from serving Ilaro, they also service numerous towns and villages which extended to Idiroko in Ipokia Local Government,” he posited.
In his address at the event, the Vice Chairman of Community Development Committee (CDC), Yewa South Local Government Area, Chief Safarudeen Popoola advised the authority of IBEDC to improve on their service delivery to the ancient town of Ilaro and its environs, stating that people of Yewa South only enjoy electricity when the staff of the company want to distribute electricity bills and collecting of payment from their customers at the end of every month.
Chief Popoola, who pointed out that many transformers in the area were obnselet and some are not working, said that some of the transformers and electricity cables need urgent repair, while some needed to be replaced.
He said that some communities in the area, such as Iwoye, Ipokia, Maun and some areas in Ilaro Township among others have been in total darkness for over 3 years as a result of non-functional transformers and outdated electricity cables.
He lamented that despite peacefully relationship with the management and staff of IBEDC, electricity supply to Ilaro and its environ have been hyper-epilescpy which according to him has paralised the socio-economic development of the area.
He noted IBEDC has been taking for granted the peaceful disposition of residents of the area who have been relating peacefully with them,
Popoola however added that leaders and members of the CDC in the area would not relent at maintaining the existing peace and harmonious relationship between them and IBEDC.
Earlier in his speech at the forum, the IBEDC Head of Commercial Department, Mr. Olajide Odutuyo disclosed that the management of (IBEDC), Sango Business Hub, has assured the distribution of prepaid meter to interested customers across Yewa South local government of Ogun State this month of August, 2019.
Odutuyo pointed out that the said prepaid meter would be issued to customers within 10 days on completion of purchase processes.
He stated that the cost of single phase meter would is N38, 350 while three phase would go for N70, 350.
The senior official of IBEDC further pointed out that interested customers who could not afford the total amount of the meter shall be given the opportunity to pay instalmentally, this according to him would give the low income customers the opportunity to take part in the purchase of the prepaid meter.
He encouraged people of the area to get the meter which would give them the opportunity to have control over their electricity usage and at the same time set them free from estimated billing system.
