Residents groan over 18 months of blackout in Kwara

Residents from various neighborhoods including Oke Oyi, Agbeyangi, Oke-Ose, Panada, Badi, Adelu, and Oloro within the Ilorin East local government area of Kwara state are voicing their concerns about enduring a prolonged 18-month period without electricity. They are reaching out to relevant authorities in the hope of having their electricity supply restored.

Mr. Ahmed Seriki, the chairman of the Oke Oyi community development association, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the situation in a conversation with Tribune newspapers. He appealed to the power distribution company, the IBEDC, urging them to promptly address this pressing issue.

This prolonged power outage has had a detrimental impact on local business activities, further exacerbated by the existing economic challenges. Mr. Seriki stressed the urgency of the matter, calling on the state governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and the IBEDC to collaborate in restoring electricity to the area. He noted that the absence of power has severely disrupted socio-economic operations within the community.

Mr. Seriki also highlighted that due to the persistent blackout, numerous business owners have been compelled to relocate to other towns, while those who remain are enduring dire economic conditions.

Adding to the frustrations, Jamiu Oladokun, the secretary of the association, disclosed that the community had attempted to restore electricity by purchasing cables from the distribution company one at a time. Unfortunately, these efforts did not yield the desired outcome. He pointed out that local hospitals are grappling with increased expenses for diesel and petrol to run generators and essential equipment.

Despite holding multiple meetings with IBEDC officials at different locations, including Baboko and Sango in Ilorin, their collective contributions to procure necessary materials did not yield successful results, leaving the residents in an unbearable situation.

Yewande Jimoh, a resident, emphasized the need for authorities to intervene, as the absence of light has created an environment conducive for criminal activities to thrive. It’s important to note that the blackout has also negatively impacted neighboring areas including Agbeyangi, Oke-Ose, Panada, Badi, Adelu, and Oloro.