IBEDC restores power to Oyo communities after prolonged blackout

Residents of Soka, Elebu and adjoining communities in Ibadan, Oyo State, have welcomed the restoration of electricity following weeks of prolonged outage that disrupted businesses, academic activities and access to basic amenities.

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company announced on Friday in response to a PidomNigeria Metro inquiry that power supply had been restored after its technical team replaced a faulty 15MVA transformer serving the Soka area.

In a statement, the company attributed the outage to a fault on the transformer, which it said was compounded by increased load demand arising from the ongoing upgrade of the Ire-Akara and Aweni Estates under the Band A feeder.

“Our technical team successfully replaced the faulty 15MVA power transformer, restoring electricity supply to all customers in the Soka area, including Band E customers,” the statement read.

The company appreciated residents and community leaders for their patience during the outage and urged customers to pay their electricity bills promptly and report faults or energy theft to support improved service delivery.

The restoration has brought relief to residents and business owners who said they endured weeks—and in some cases months—of erratic electricity supply.

Speaking with PidomNigeria Metro, a Soka resident, simply identified as Mr Seyi, said the prolonged outage had made life unbearable.

“In the three years I have lived here, electricity has never been stable. Sometimes, we go for weeks or even months without power, and when it comes, it lasts for only about 30 minutes.

“We depend on electricity to pump water, so we have had to fetch water from neighbouring compounds. The heat has also been unbearable. We hope this restoration will be sustained,” he said.

The owner of Brain Hub Tech said the outage had forced him to rely almost entirely on a generator, pushing his monthly fuel expenses into hundreds of thousands of naira.

“I spend a large part of my profit on fuel just to keep my business running. I only hope this restoration marks the beginning of stable electricity supply,” he said.

A fashion entrepreneur, Mrs Rosabel, said she had been spending heavily on fuel and often resorted to using a gas iron because of the blackout.

“The outage seriously affected my business. We sometimes stayed without electricity for months. I am happy power has been restored, but we want consistency,” she said.

A Lead City University student, Miss Ayo, said the prolonged outage had affected her studies, making it difficult to read at night, charge electronic devices and complete assignments.

“It has been a frustrating period. I hope the electricity remains stable because it will make life much easier for students and everyone else,” she said.

Similarly, an Elebu resident, Miss Derinsola, described the restoration as a welcome development after enduring months of irregular supply.

Residents, however, urged IBEDC to ensure the restored supply is sustained, noting that regular electricity would ease the burden on households and businesses already grappling with rising energy costs.

The restoration comes amid growing concerns over unreliable electricity supply across many parts of Nigeria, with households and small businesses increasingly relying on expensive petrol and diesel generators to bridge supply gaps. In Oyo State, residents have repeatedly complained that prolonged outages have disrupted economic activities, access to potable water and education.