A dramatic protest erupted in Omu-Aran, a quiet town in Kwara State, as residents took to the streets over what they called an outrageous hike in electricity tariffs. The protest, which took place over the weekend, was led by two masked masquerades who joined a growing number of frustrated youths and residents angry at what they described as a sudden and unfair reclassification of their electricity band.
The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) reportedly changed the community’s classification from Band C to Bands B and A without prior consultation or warning. As a result, many residents received their March 2025 bills with shock, with amounts ranging between N41,000 and N47,000 — a significant leap from the usual N10,000 to N15,000 they were used to paying.
The protest quickly spread across the town. Residents blocked key roads and locations including Olomu and Latinwo Market areas, the palace of the Olomu of Omu-Aran, and even the local IBEDC office at the Omu-Aran City Complex. Major highways linking Omu-Aran to Kabba and Otun-Ekiti were also barricaded, causing long traffic delays and drawing attention to the severity of the community’s frustration.
Placards in hand, the protesters demanded action. They called for an immediate reversal of the band classification back to Band C, the suspension of current Band A charges, a review of the billing process to reflect previous rates, and the urgent replacement of damaged transformers that have worsened the power supply situation in parts of the town. They also insisted on an independent investigation into the quality and consistency of IBEDC’s service delivery.
In a joint message read to reporters, Mr Niyi Adeyeye, President of the Omu-Aran Development Association, and community elder Mr Ranti Adebayo made it clear that the protest would continue unless their demands were met. They stressed that although the demonstration was intense, it would remain peaceful, rejecting the need for police or military intervention.
The Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Adeoti, addressed the crowd at his palace and urged them to remain calm. He promised that talks were already underway between community leaders and officials from the electricity company.
When approached for a response, Mr A. O. Badmus, the IBEDC Business Manager for Omu-Aran, declined to speak, directing all media enquiries to the company’s spokesperson in Kwara State, Mr Gbenga Ajiboye. Ajiboye later explained that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) sets the rules for electricity classifications and that any area receiving at least 20 hours of power per day qualifies for Band A. According to him, Omu-Aran now falls within that category. He described the billing controversy as a business issue between consumers and providers and said discussions at higher levels were ongoing to find a solution.
For now, the streets of Omu-Aran remain tense, with residents refusing to back down until they see tangible changes.
