IBEDC Revives Power in Osun Community Following PUNCH Report

Residents in Afaake, a settlement within the Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, were filled with joy on Wednesday when electricity ...

Residents in Afaake, a settlement within the Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State, were filled with joy on Wednesday when electricity was brought back following seven months of complete power outage.

The development followed a PUNCH Metroa report released two weeks prior, which revealed the struggles of the community following the failure of its sole transformer in March, causing power outages in homes and businesses.

Our reporter found out that just days following the report, officials from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company arrived, set up a temporary "loaner transformer," which was activated on Tuesday.

In conversation with our reporter on Thursday, a fruit and vegetable purchaser, Semiu Abdu-Salam, mentioned that the neighborhood appreciated the quick response that came after the article was released.

He stated, "On behalf of everyone, a sincere thank you from the depths of our hearts. As Farouk Abba (Esq) mentioned, we are appreciating our blessings due to the media's prompt assistance. Without their help, we wouldn't have regained our power so quickly."

A few weeks ago, officials from the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company installed the transformer, and following instructions, they allowed it to sit as part of the standard procedure. Finally, the electricity has returned to Afaake, Ejigbo. We can now operate our boreholes, read at night, and resume our businesses.

Another inhabitant, Ganiyat Adepeju, mentioned that the restoration of power had rejuvenated their enterprises.

She remarked, "We can finally take a deep breath again. The electricity returned yesterday (Wednesday), and people have been celebrating. For months, we were unable to pump water or use the community borehole, nor could we charge our phones. This return of power has brought happiness and relief to our lives. We appreciate PUNCH Metro and IBEDC for making this possible."

In the same way, a young person from the community, Babatunde Ademola, mentioned that the progress was a comfort following several months of difficulty caused by the electricity shortage.

"Everyone cheered when the lights turned on. Kids were yelling, women were dancing. It feels as if hope has been brought back to our village once more," he added.

Another individual from the community, Ishola Ifedayo, also conveyed appreciation, noting that the prompt action demonstrated that governmental bodies pay attention when concerns are highlighted via appropriate avenues.

"We appreciate PUNCH Metro for giving our voice more reach and the IBEDC for listening to our concerns. This is how governance should function through responsibility and empathy," he added.

Verifying the restoration, the IBEDC, in a statement signed by its Regional Head for the Osun Region, Ifeanyi Ikeji, acknowledged that electricity supply has been completely restored after the installation of a temporary transformer.

The message stated, "The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc is happy to let the public know that electricity has been restored to Afaake village in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State. The return of power came after a temporary transformer was provided to replace the community's broken 100KVA transformer."

The temporary transformer was put into use on Wednesday, and the neighborhood is currently receiving power from Ejigbo 33kV line under Band B (16 hours) supply.

The power supply company, nevertheless, urged inhabitants to make timely payment of their bills for continuous service provision.

"We thank the community for their patience and comprehension during the outage. Hence, we urge residents to clear their unpaid bills to prevent service termination. Timely payment is essential for IBEDC to maintain a consistent and dependable electricity supply to the community," the statement noted.

It also mentioned that the company plans to soon involve community leaders to enhance dialogue and collaboration for better service.

"IBEDC continues to focus on delivering secure, dependable, and effective power to every customer within its service region," the announcement ended.

The emergence occurs during frequent instances of power cuts in rural areas, with numerous cases only gaining the focus of utility companies following public complaints or media involvement.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).