Residents of Igboora, Ayete, Tapa and Igangan in Oyo State’s Ibarapa region have raised concerns over prolonged electricity outages, with some communities reportedly experiencing unreliable power supply for nearly a decade.
The residents said the persistent blackout has affected businesses, schools, healthcare services, security and overall development in the area. Some business owners have reportedly relocated because of the difficulty of operating without electricity, while others have turned to solar power and other alternatives.
Residents also blamed vandalism and the theft of electricity infrastructure for worsening the situation, saying several community-funded efforts to repair damaged equipment have failed to provide a lasting solution.
They appealed to the Oyo State Government, the Federal Government and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to urgently restore reliable electricity to the affected communities.
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Responding, IBEDC said the poor supply was linked partly to infrastructure limitations affecting the Ibarapa axis. The company said rehabilitation and restoration work had commenced, alongside vegetation management.
IBEDC also disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency, was undertaking Phase 1 rehabilitation of the Eruwa–Igboora network. Planned transmission projects, including the Maya and Igangan 132/33kV substations and the Igboora switching station, are also expected to address some of the network challenges when completed.
The electricity company apologised to affected residents and businesses and assured them that it was working with relevant stakeholders to improve power supply across the Ibarapa axis.
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