1st March, 2018
Residents of Oyo, Oyo state, have expressed sadness over prolonged power outage by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) in most parts of town.
Many residents, operating various businesses who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Oyo said the outage had negatively affected economic activities in the town.
Mr Saheed Bamgbola, a welder, said the power outage had crippled his business.
“Lack of electricity supply in my area at Alalubosa has crippled my business, because I cannot afford to buy fuel on daily basis.
“I have resolved to use my motorcycle to carry passengers to make ends meet, rather than keep waiting for the IBEDC to supply power.
“Oyo town has suffered so much from IBEDC in recent times as most artisans who depend on electricity for their businesses have resorted to using generating sets to run them, this is an additional cost.
“Others who have no means of buying fuel have had to shut down their businesses temporarily, pending when there will be adequate power supply,’’ Bamgbola said.
He appealed to IBEDC to strive hard to ensure regular power supply in the area.
Mrs Grace Adesola, a trader in assorted drinks at Idi–Igba Sawmill area said that lack of electricity supply had thrown her out of business.
“Lack of electricity supply has turned my fridge to a cockroach infested box.
Although I tried to buy ice blocks to sustain the business, the high cost of the blocks made it impossible for me to continue,’’ she said.
A frozen fish seller, Mrs Sakirat Popoola, also lamented over the problem.
“There has been no time the town enjoys light; weather during raining or dry season As a result of this; many frozen fish sellers have to buy generating sets to run their business.
“This is creating additional burden on us,’’ Popoola said.
Reacting to the complaints, IBEDC Regional Communication Officer, Mr Frank William, denied the story on prolonged power outage in the town.
“It is not true that we did not supply power in Oyo in the last two weeks,’’ William said.
He, however, admitted that the current supply was inadequate.
“We are trying our best to ensure adequate supply, it is what we get that we supply to our customers.
“The company is having problem with getting commensurate payment for energy supplied. It is not enough to ask for power supply, do you pay for the ones you are getting.
“Consumers are not paying adequately, you get a bill of N2,000, then decide to pay only N800, this is not payment, the practice is frustrating our business,’’ William said.