By Daniel Ayantoye
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has been accused of requesting for the sum of N250,000 to restore power supply in three communities in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Ita-Elepa, Agbo-Oba and Surulere –all in Ilorin, were said to have been thrown into blackout since the transformer serving the communities were vandalised by cable thieves, last week.
Leaders in the affected communities told our reporter that officials of the distribution company demanded that they pay money before repairs could be effected on the transformer.
Speaking with this medium at the weekend, the Chairman of Surulere Landlords Association, Abdulrahman Olasiele confirmed that the affected communities have been asked to contribute N250,000 by IBEDC officials.
“I was informed at a meeting of community heads held recently to address the problem. We were told at the meeting that the money would be used to procure the stolen items from the vandalised transformer,” he explained.
Corroborating him, the Chairman of Ita-Elepa Landlords Association, Wahab Aniyikaye while complaining over shedding of power supply in the area, said the community heads have been informed of the request by the distribution company.
A resident who identified herself as Alhaja Silifat said she has been informed of the contribution towards the payment to IBEDC.
Meanwhile, residents of the affected communities have continued to lament the hardship being faced by them since the blackout.
A resident, Taiwo Adeleke, decried the epileptic supply in the area, saying that the recent development would compound the suffering of the neighbourhood.
“I have been living in this area for the past four and half years and I tell you that I have never enjoyed good electricity in this area. This development will only add to our problem,” he said.
However, reacting to the allegation, the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) debunked the claim of requesting for any money from the community.
The Regional Communication Officer of Kwara region, Asaju Kolawole, during a chat with this medium, said the communities should give evidence of their claims.
“It is our responsibility to maintain transformers and other equipment, so there was no way our officials would have requested for money to carry out repair on the transformer. Perhaps the alleged official may have felt the processes would be delayed.”
