Abudu Community Residents Demand Immediate Power Restoration After Five Years of Darkness

Residents of Abudu, a community in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, have taken their grievances to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), demanding the immediate restoration of power after enduring over five years of total blackout.

Over the weekend, a large number of aggrieved residents stormed the IBEDC office to express their frustration over the prolonged lack of electricity, which they said had crippled businesses and disrupted daily life in their community.

The suburban area, comprising more than 30 neighborhoods, has reportedly faced dire economic and social consequences due to the absence of power supply. Community leaders voiced the collective pain of the residents, urging IBEDC to take swift action.

Mr. Abdusalami Yusuf, a prominent community leader, described the situation as dire. “We have been in darkness for over five years, and our businesses have collapsed. Many houses in our community are now deserted,” he said, highlighting the mass exodus of residents due to the deteriorating living conditions.

Mrs. Adebayo Rebecca, another resident, spoke about the personal toll of the power outage. “Our lives have been upended. Businesses are failing, and yet, despite having no power, we are still issued electricity bills every month,” she lamented.

Mr. Ogunnusi Niyi, another voice from the community, emphasized the residents’ peaceful approach despite their frustrations. “We have remained law-abiding and cooperative with PHCN officials, but it seems our goodwill has been taken for granted,” he said.

Responding to the protesters, Mr. Waheed Lawal, a technical engineer representing the IBEDC branch manager, reassured the community that efforts were already in motion to address the power supply issues.

“Work is underway on the construction and installation of equipment to restore power. We are optimistic that power will be restored within two weeks,” Lawal stated. He also invited community representatives to visit the project site and witness the ongoing progress, urging them to remain patient and hopeful.

While the assurances offered a glimmer of hope, the residents remained cautious, vowing to closely monitor the situation to ensure that the promise of power restoration is fulfilled without further delays. For them, the return of electricity marks not just a restoration of power but also a revival of their community’s economic and social vitality.