By RismadarVoice Media
December 28, 2025
Residents of Ireakari community in Ilisan Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Saturday staged a second protest in two months over what they described as a decade-long erratic power supply, despite contributing over ₦11 million to install a transformer.
The protesters, who marched peacefully within the community, displayed placards bearing inscriptions such as “Gov Dapo Abiodun, save us from pitch darkness,” “We celebrated Christmas in darkness,” and “IBEDC has failed us, Gov Abiodun come to our rescue.”
Community members said they resorted to another protest because assurances given by a state government official who visited the area after the first protest had yet to translate into action.
Speaking during the protest, the community head, Chief Adeyemo Sofola said residents had endured years of neglect.
“We are forced to come out again because we are tired of living in darkness since 2016,” he said.
Sofola explained that in 2018, former lawmaker Ladi Adebutu donated a transformer to the community, which officials of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) reportedly certified as serviceable.
“We raised over ₦11 million to purchase cables, poles and for installation. When IBEDC officials were to energize it, they said it was refurbished and not fit for use,” he said, describing the situation as painful.
According to him, following the first protest two months ago, an engineer said to be sent by the governor visited the community, promised that a new transformer would be provided within a week.
“More than two months later, nothing has happened. We celebrated Christmas in darkness. Businesses have collapsed, living conditions are unbearable,” Sofola added, appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene, urgently.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Ilisan Remo and a resident of the community, Alhaji Sarafadeen Aderemi, said the blackout had caused severe socio-economic hardship in the community of over 4,000 residents.
“We were assured after the first protest that a new transformer would come within a week, however, nothing has happened. We cannot charge phones, pump water, run our businesses,” he said.
The community secretary, Mr Taiwo Idowu, said many residents had relocated due to the prolonged blackout, adding that the area felt abandoned.
Mrs Janet Olaifa, who spoke on behalf of the women, described the situation as dehumanizing, urged the governor to fulfil his promise.
“Our businesses have collapsed, families are suffering. We beg the governor to give us a transformer,” she said.
Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer of IBEDC in Ogun State, Mr Yomi Bada, were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone were unanswered, as of the time of filing this report.
However, Bada had earlier told newsmen that IBEDC officials were not consulted when the transformer was donated, only to discovered it was substandard when it was presented for energization, adding that the company would explore ways to assist the community.
