Photo caption: Electricity transmission facility
No fewer than 63 communities and areas in Ogun State are battling reduced electricity supply following a load restriction on the Ota/Papa/Abeokuta 132kV network.
The Ogun Region of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company disclosed this in a notice of power outage issued to customers on Monday, stating that the restriction was affecting the available power supply to its 33kV feeders serving the region.
The development spanned several local governments, including Ado-Odo/Ota, Ifo, Imeko/Afon, Yewa North, Yewa South, Sagamu, Obafemi-Owode, Ewekoro and others.
IBEDC announced, “Kindly be informed that due to load restrictions on the Ota/Papa/Abeokuta 132kV network, which is affecting the available power supply to our 33kV feeders serving the region, customers in the following areas may experience reduced power supply.”
According to the notice, the affected areas include Ayetoro, Imeko, Ilaro, Odeda, Owode-Egba, Kobape, Bisodun, Omu, Arigbawonwo, Siun, Asipa, Orile-Imo, New Makun City, Pentagon Estate, Lufuwape, Lotto, Olowotedo, Orimerunmu, Ashimolowo, Adesan, Pakuro, Ogunrun, Maba, Imedu-Nla, Ofada Town and Ofada Road.
Others are Orunkole, Mobile, OPIC Road, Mosadomi, Asa-Bala, Mayegun, Christ Embassy Area, Tollgate, Eledi, Ijagba, Itele, Lafenwa, Olosun, Akeja, Abebi, Osi, Okede, Okesuna Estate, Iyana Iyesi, Egan, Ijaba, Ifo, Papalanto, Iyana Ilogbo, Iju and Oju Ore.
The electricity distribution company also listed Iloye, Adalemo, Iyana Cele, Olomu, Owode Ijako, Ogungbade, Ibogun, Ajegunle, Ilepa, Ijako Onihale, Abeokuta and adjoining areas among the locations affected by the reduced supply.
Our correspondent reports that many of the affected communities accommodate millions of residents and businesses, whose activities are being impacted by the cut in power supply.
IBEDC said it was monitoring the situation with its value chain partners and would provide updates as developments occur. The company apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the reduced electricity supply.
“We are closely monitoring the situation with our value chain partners and will keep you updated on developments. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience,” the DisCo said.
However, some residents took to social media to complain about the prolonged outages and poor quality of electricity supply in their areas, calling on the authorities concerned to accelerate power restoration.
Emmanuel Martins said the few hours of electricity supply were often characterised by voltage fluctuations and low voltage. “This is coming after three or four days without electricity,” John Abba said, noting that the blackouts started days before IBEDC made the announcement on Monday.
Another resident, EL Phem, questioned when the problem would be resolved, asking, “Thanks for the update, but when will this be attended to?”
Similarly, a resident of Iyana Ilogbo in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Bankole Olowookere, said electricity was restored briefly in Iyana Ilogbo before another outage occurred.
“They restored the power supply at Iyana Ilogbo for, like, three hours before another outage around 1:45 AM on Monday. Please help us fix this as soon as possible,” he said.
Mopelola Lawal also said residents of Iju had experienced several days without electricity. “This is coming after four days of darkness in Iju,” she said.
Meanwhile, some communities in Iwo, Osun State, were recently thrown into darkness following a fault on the Iwo Township 11kV feeder.
The affected areas included Lawyer Atanda/Shouele, Olupona Axis, Asabi Okin/Asalu, Testing Ground/Water Works, Oluwo Palace/Osogbo Junction, Ole Agbo/Oweyo, Oke-Odo/Oke-Afo, Iwo Quarters, Ajinikirun/General Hospital, Panada and environs.
The distribution company said the outage was caused by a faulty breaker mechanism, adding that repair works were ongoing.
It said supply was intermittently restored to parts of the affected network to minimise the impact of the outage, while its technical team worked to restore full power supply.
The company apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the outage.
