Over 400 Workers Risk Losing Job as IBEDC Cuts Power Supply to Over 11 Factories in Ilorin
By Omowumi Omotosho
Over 400 factory workers in the Afon area of Ganmo, Ilorin, Kwara State face imminent job loss as factory owners struggle with exorbitant electricity tariffs and power supply cut by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
National Pilot findings reveal that several factories, including a nail factory, syringe and needle factory, marble grinding factory, nylon factory, an oxygen production plant known as Dallah Oxygen and others have been severely impacted. These businesses were paying ₦73.19 per kilowatt until December 2024 when IBEDC issued a letter informing them of their migration to Band A without providing clear details of the implications.
In January 2025, electricity tariffs skyrocketed from ₦73.19 to ₦209.5 per kilowatt, causing the factories electricity bills to surge from an average of ₦800,000–₦1 million to over ₦2 million per month. Despite the transition to Band A, which is expected to guarantee at least 20 hours of power supply daily, the factories continued to experience unstable electricity.
During National Pilot visit to the affected factories on Saturday, the factory owners confirmed the billing crisis. However, they declined comment on the issue for fear of backlash from IBEDC management.
The situation has left the factory owners grappling with rising operational costs, as some of them confided in National Pilot that they may have to layoff majority of their staff.
