By Miracle Okoro, Abeokuta
The Sagamu Local Government has secured a major victory for its residents, forcing the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to suspend disconnections and halt the issuance of bills following a prolonged power outage.
The breakthrough came after an emergency meeting between the local government and IBEDC management, convened by Chairman Jubril Afolabi Odulate.
The meeting, held in response to growing public outcry, aimed to address the persistent blackout that has paralyzed economic activity and disrupted daily life across Sagamu and its neighboring communities.
Chairman Odulate described the power outage as a “major challenge” that is throttling the local economy, straining healthcare delivery, and adding a significant burden to households.
In his opening remarks, Odulate did not mince words regarding the severity of the crisis. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that businesses are suffering, essential services are being strained, and residents deserve clear information and prompt action.
The local government chairman made a formal appeal to IBEDC to suspend all disconnections and halt the issuance of bills for the period during which no power was supplied. He urged the company to prioritize resolving the technical issues causing the outage.
Responding favorably to the appeal, IBEDC’s Business Manager for the Sagamu Business Hub, Mr. Olusegun Ebinowen, agreed to the moratorium. He confirmed that, effective immediately, the company would pause disconnection exercises and cease the distribution of estimated bills until power is fully restored and the situation normalizes.
IBEDC officials provided context on the scale of the problem, revealing that the fault is not isolated to Sagamu alone. Other major towns within the distribution network, including Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, and Mowe, are also grappling with similar outages.
The Technical Engineer for the Sagamu Business Hub, Mr. Isaac Boyenle, explained that the widespread nature of the technical fault necessitates a coordinated intervention across multiple locations, complicating efforts to provide an immediate and definitive timeline for full restoration.
When pressed by the chairman on the expected duration of the blackout, Boyenle admitted that while a specific timeframe could not be given, the public would be promptly updated once the supply stabilizes.
The meeting concluded with the local government pledging to maintain a close watch on the situation and continue its engagement with IBEDC until electricity supply is fully restored.
The Sagamu LG’s bold stance has brought relief to residents, who are now hopeful that their power will be restored soon. The outcome of this intervention is being closely watched by other communities facing similar challenges.
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