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 N11 million 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 have 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 N11 million, which was used to purchase cables, 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, Mr 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.
Mrs 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, Mr 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.
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