Residents, business owners lament over 'erratic' power supply to Ondo
…say blackout crippling business, aiding insecurity From Tosin Tope, Akure Many residents and business owners in Ondo State have lamented over the persistent poor electricity supply to the state by
...say blackout crippling business, aiding insecurity
From Tosin Tope, Akure
Many residents and business owners in Ondo State have lamented over the persistent poor electricity supply to the state by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
The residents said the 'deteriorating power supply' to the major cities of the state was becoming worrisome, noting that the development qas crumbling business ventures.
Speaking with the Nation on Sunday, the aggrieved residents complained that the erratic power supply by the BEDC had worsened living conditions mostly in the state capital, Akure.
A civil servant living in the ijoka area of Akure, Ibrahim Oladele said that over two weeks, residents in his axis had been in perpetual darkness without any remorse from the electricity distribution company.
He noted that despite the huge funds invested in the power sector, there has been no commensurate result, stressing that the situation was affecting most of the residents and business operators.
According to him, the poor power supply had increased operating costs for small scale business owners and disrupted daily activities.
"It is what we have been facing for the past few weeks here in Ijoka. As I speak, the living conditions have worsened and there is hardly any power supply to this area and the state capital, Akure.
"By the time God touch their heart to restore electricity, it does not last up to twenty minutes. I think the government of President Bola Tinubu is sleeping on this matter of power. Something urgent needed to be done," he said.
Another resident at the Araromi area of Akure, Olufunke Adebisi noted that the BEDC rarely restored electricity during the day to the area, lamenting that the situation was depressing.
Mrs Adebisi said that the lack of stable electricity had affected her business of selling frozen foods, 'pure water and soft drinks to customers.
She, however, noted that most business owners in the area now depend on 'generators' to run their businesses, explaining that she does not have the money to buy one.
"One of my customers was even telling me last week to go and get Solar. But where would I get that money. I can't buy generator. The situation is depressing for we business owners now," Mrs Adebisi said.
A welder, Mr Shola, whose workshop is located on the Shagari/Irese road said the lack of electricity had been affecting his welding work, revealing that he bought diesel daily for his big generator to enable him to work.
He also complained how he woke up in the middle of the night whenever there was electricity to do some work to meet his customers' demands.
"Even when the bring the light (electricity) at the middle of the night, it won't spend hours. They will take it again. So, I am appealing to the government to do all it takes to ensure that power supply in the country improves," Mr Shola said.
A community leader, Pa Joseph Ayodele, expressed concern over rising insecurity, noting that prolonged darkness at night had made some streets vulnerable to criminal activities.
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"You know when there is no light, the whole place is in darkness. That is when thieves operate freely, and that is what we are now experiencing. Electricity is not just about comfort; it is about safety," he said.
Ayodele said the situation had exposed residents to heightened security risks, stressing that "We have recorded an increase in theft and burglary since the power situation deteriorated."
An official of the BEDC in the marketing department in Akure, Mr Joel Jolakanmi said the distribution company understood the challenges being experienced by customers under its jurisdiction.
He noted that the BEDC had constantly shown concerns and also expressed its deep empathy with members of the public over the erratic power supply.
"We are actively engaging all relevant stakeholders to improve power supply across our network. As soon as the constraints at the generation level are resolved, supply will stabilize," Mr Jolakanmi said.
Reacting, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources in the State, Engr Johnson Alabi said the government is aware of the situation and is working with stakeholders in the power sector to address the challenges and also improve electricity supply across the state.
Alabi, however, added that the various discos in the state are only distributing what they generated from the source, stressing that the situation has badly affected supply to the state.
