A wave of growing frustration and outrage has gripped the ancient town of Saki and its environs as residents, community leaders, and stakeholders continue to cry out over the abysmal electricity supply provided by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).
The campaign, gaining momentum both offline and across social media platforms, accuses IBEDC of extortion, poor service delivery, and outright neglect of its constitutional responsibilities.
Residents claim they are being billed for electricity not supplied, with many communities alleging they receive between two to four hours of electricity in an entire month, despite being charged the full monthly tariff.
In a strongly worded statement, Alhaji Azeez Suaib (popularly known as Sport Water), a prominent community leader representing the collective voice of 25 communities along Ogbooro Road, lamented the dire state of electricity supply since the beginning of the year.
“As I speak to you, none of the communities along Ogbooro Road have enjoyed up to two hours of electricity in total since January 2025. It’s a complete blackout, yet we are consistently charged for services not rendered,” he stated.
Alhaji Suaib further revealed that a significant number of residents have resorted to solar energy as a result of persistent disappointment from IBEDC in Saki West Local Government Area.
He emphasized that the transition to solar, though necessary, has placed an additional financial burden on many households and small businesses.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Raheem Rasheed, popularly known as Agenda, and a vocal representative of the Gboro Community, directly accused IBEDC’s Saki office of gross mismanagement and negligence.
“If a city as big and strategic as Saki cannot get stable electricity, what hope is there for smaller communities like Ekokan and others in Ward 04 of Saki West? This is a gross failure,” Mr. Rasheed asserted.
He urged IBEDC to communicate openly with residents and provide explanations regarding the persistent shortfall in power distribution.
Mr. Sefiu Adeagbo from the Challenge area of Saki added his voice to the chorus of grievances. While he acknowledged the growing shift to solar power, he highlighted the plight of local entrepreneurs who cannot afford industrial inverters.
“Many small businesses are suffering. Productivity has dropped, and daily operations are being hindered. Not everyone can afford the luxury of solar energy,” he said.
From Sango Community, Mr. Ilias Okikiola issued a passionate appeal to traditional and political authorities, including the Okere of Sakiland, the Saki Parapo Caretaker Committee, and the Chairman of Saki West Local Government, urging them to urgently intervene and seek lasting solutions to what he described as a “sustained assault” on the economic well-being of the people.
Mr. Hammed Tunde took the protest a step further by calling on stakeholders to instruct residents to stop paying for electricity they do not consume. He accused IBEDC officials in the area of systemic extortion and called for immediate enforcement of consumer protection measures in Saki West.
As frustrations boil over, various community bodies and civil groups are reportedly mobilizing for protests aimed at compelling IBEDC to take responsibility and implement sustainable solutions. The protests, which are gaining traction across social media, are being described as a constitutional stand against exploitation and a call for justice.
A staff member of IBDEC in Saki, speaking anonymously since they are not authorized to give official statements, explained that the current electricity issues are not due to problems at their station. Instead, they are caused by the poor condition of electricity poles and wires across the Oke Ogun area, which require major maintenance.
The staff member added that Saki and surrounding regions can expect improved electricity supply once the Mega Station near Ago Aare is completed.
With local tensions rising and economic activities grinding to a halt in many sectors, the people of Saki are demanding not just answers, but immediate and measurable action. The ball, as many say, is now firmly in IBEDC’s court.
