Residents of Omu-Aran in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State have staged a peaceful protest against the recent migration from Band B to Band A in the electricity billing system. The protest, which began yesterday and continued today, was marked by residents expressing their frustration over the sudden hike in electricity tariffs.
According to the protesters, households that were previously paying as low as ₦13,000 under Band B now have to pay as much as ₦41,600 following the migration to Band A. This drastic increase has caused outrage among the people, many of whom say the new rate is unaffordable and unjustified.
“We just moved from Band B to Band A last month, and everything changed overnight. We cannot continue like this,” said one of the protesters. “We are demanding an immediate reversal to Band B. We want fairness.”
Another resident, Mrs. Abosede Akinwale, lamented, “How do they expect us to survive? My salary hasn’t changed, but my electricity bill has tripled. This is wickedness.”
A young business owner, Idris Bello, also shared his frustration: “We are trying to survive in this economy. I run a small barbing salon, and now I’m paying more for light than I make in a week. This is not sustainable.”
A welder, Mr. Kayode Ajiboye, highlighted the economic impact on local artisans and the community at large. “We welders rely heavily on electricity. With this new Band A tariff, we can’t even power our machines without running at a loss. If this continues, many of us will close shop. That means more unemployment and less productivity for our community.”
The protest has remained peaceful, with residents! marching through major streets and holding placards with inscriptions like “Bring Back Band B,” “No to Band A Tariff,” and “We Say No to Exploitation.”
According to our reporter, citizens have called on the authorities, including the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to urgently intervene and address the concerns of the people.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from the electricity providers regarding the situation.
