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Tag: Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC)

  • IBEDC consumers threaten to migrate to other DISCOS

    IBEDC consumers threaten to migrate to other DISCOS

    Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) consumers have threatened to migrate to other energy distribution companies if IBEDC does not improve on its services.

    The consumers complained of purchasing transformers by themselves, kits for IBEDC workers, arbitrarily billings, customer abuses, lack of pre-paid meters, disregard to capping, among other issues.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ota at the opening day of a three- day FCCPC/Electricity Consumer Forum organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, in conjunction with Sango/Ota Community Development Committee (SACDC), Ado Ota, Ogun State, the consumers said they were tired of the lackadaisical attitude of IBEDC workers towards their customers.

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    Addressing reporters, the Chairman of the Zonal Community Development Committee for Ado Odo Ota, Prince Olatunji Onaolapo, said the community had bought up to 200 transformers ‘’because when a new one is needed or replacement is needed, IBEDC will just leave the communities to their fate.

    “In Itele axis, the communities have purchased more than 80 transformers, including communities in Ado Ota. In all, we have purchased up to 200 transformers because this area is still developing.”

    He said members of the community were coughing out between N4million and N5million for each transformer in the past, ‘’but now the price is much higher.

  • IBEDC: 221, not 3,000 contract workers sacked

    IBEDC: 221, not 3,000 contract workers sacked

    Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has broken silence on the controversy trailing the number of workers disengaged by its outsourcing company, Premier International Procurements & Logistics Limited (PIPLL).

    A peace meeting called between the management of the affected companies, leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and officials of Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment was deadlocked.

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    The meeting could not continue on the grounds that the agreement reached at the February 26 parley, which included the reinstatement of the sacked workers, was not obeyed.

    The number of affected workers has been a source of worry for the electricity distribution company.

    Coordinating Head, Corporate Services, IBEDC, Angela Olanrewaju, said only 221 contract workers were affected, as against the 3,000 that were widely reported to have been affected.

  • Ibadan DisCo official electrocuted

    The management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has expressed shock and sadness over the electrocution of one of its members of staff, Mr Adewale Adegoke, at Onireke Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.

    The Company’s Head, Corporate Communications and Strategy, Mrs Angela Olarenwaju, told reporters that the incident occurred during the early hours of Saturday while the deceased was official duty.

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    Olarenwaju said: “With great sadness and heavy heart, the management of IBEDC hereby confirms the unfortunate passing of our staff, Mr. Adewale Adegoke, during the course of duty this morning when he was involved in an electricity related incidence.

    “Adegoke was confirmed dead at Teju hospital where he was rushed immediately after the incidence at Onireke, after all efforts to resuscitate him at the scene of the accident proved abortive.

    “Our sincere condolences and prayers goes to the family. We are currently investigating the course of this unfortunate incidence.”

  • Ibadan DisCo achieves 365 days safety milestone

    The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) said it has achieved a milestone of 365 days of zero Lost Time Injury (LTI) translating to 1.6 million safe man-hours.

    Lost Time Incident or Injury (LTI) is a measure of injury or incident that occurs on a job that is capable of preventing a worker from performing or continuing with his or her task resulting in downtime in the operation. It is an oil and gas industry benchmark that evaluates adherence to safety and environmental requirements during operations.

    The IBEDC in a statement by its Head, Branding and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Angela Olanrewaju, quoted the company’s Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Ade Ayileka, as saying the business had no time lost to injury with staff in 365 days.

    “This safety achievement is a big milestone in the power sector considering the level of risks involved in the day-to-day activities and the extent of free access to electrical installations.

    “The power sector by nature is fraught with high-level hazard and occupational risk. To achieve a year with no lost time Injury is definitely a milestone to recognise,” Ayileka said.

    He said the company was determined to put safety at the forefront of all its operations as its mission was to attain the vision zero incident by 2020.

    According to him, the major milestone was achieved due mainly to the emphasis placed on safety within IBEDC, which has formed part of its core strategic business goals consistently for over three years.

    Ayileka said this also included extensive customer education, sensitisation on safety and huge investment on safety gear and equipment for staff.

    “To ensure we continue to keep safety as a culture as we work toward the International Standard Certification, which specifies requirements for an Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Management System, Ibadan DisCo has obtained the services of an accredited environmental consultancy firm.

    He said the firm – AMPAK Nigeria Limited, was engaged for a health, safety and environment improvement programme.

    Ayileka said the firm would help IBEDC consolidate its existing safety structure and recommend new measures to attain the International Safety Standard Certification – ISO 45001-2018.

    He also appealed to customers to work in collaboration with IBEDC and its staff to attain this mission by not tampering with electrical installation, refrain from building any structure under power lines and assaulting its staff.

  • Rainstorm wreaks havoc in Ilorin

    Rainstorm has destroyed more than 40 electricity poles and other property worth millions of Naira in some parts of the Kwara state capital, Ilorin, resulting in blackout.

    The rainstorm  which took place on Monday night in  areas such as Offa garage, Olulade, Ita-Alamau, Gaa-Akanbi and Budo Efo culminated in downpour that lasted several hours.

    A witness’ account also revealed that some public utilities on Ajase-Ipo road including some newly installed solar powered-street light were affected by the rainstorm.

    The source further told our correspondent that the driver of a taxi cab sustained injuries when a pole at Ita-Alamu fell on the moving taxi.

    The damage came less than a week when a similar rainstorm rendered hundreds of residents of Ilorin township homeless.

    The facilities in the Kwara stadium and some commercial banks were also destroyed by the rainstorm.

    Commenting on the incident,  Mr Asaju Kolawole, the Regional Communication Officer of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company ( IBEDC ) in Ilorin, stated that the technical team of the company had moved to scene to assess the extent of destruction for the management’s necessary action.

    Kolawole, who assured the residents that power would be restored to the affected areas before the end of the week.

    “You know, this damage of poles entails a lot of things. We will have to dig a hole, erect the pole and wait for sometimes before we lay wire.

    “So it will take sometimes before we restore light. However, before this week ends, all the issues revolving around it would be resolved,” he said.

    NAN

  • IBEDC begins free distribution of pre-paid meters in Kwara soon

    IBEDC begins free distribution of pre-paid meters in Kwara soon

    The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) says it will soon commence the free distribution of pre-paid meters to electricity consumers in Kwara.

    Mr Asaju Kolawole, the company’s Regional Communication Officer, spoke on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area.

    Kolawole said that the meters being purchased for N37, 000 by electricity consumers now, would be distributed free.

    According to him, IBEDC is in the process of completing the distribution of those already paid for before the commencement of the free distribution.

    He warned electricity consumers not to pay for new pre-paid meters.

    “We are going to commence the free distribution of the meters to every category of consumer very soon.

    “Contrary to the notion that we don’t want to give out meters, the mere fact that consumers don’t have meters affects us the more.

    “So, it is beneficial to the company that all households have meters, considering the level of energy lost to lack of meters,’’ he said.

    Also, Mr Waliu Sanni, the Business Manager, IBEDC Omu-Aran District, said that over 600 pre-paid meters had been distributed free within the district.

    Sanni said that the company had also embarked on data capturing of electricity consumers toward improving good relationship with consumers.

    “The data capturing of consumers was geared toward achieving an effective service delivery to our numerous consumers in the district,’’ he said.

    Sanni urged electricity consumers to always adhere strictly to the electricity regulations like putting off the unused appliances to reduce energy wastage.

    He also called for prompt payment of electricity bills to ensure the sustenance of regular energy supply to the area.

  • Residents urge IBEDC to connect Ibafo to national grid

    The President, Concerned Ibafo Residents Forum, Mr Jacob Abolade, on Monday urged the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to  connect the community to the national grid to boost socio-economic activities.

    Abolade made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
    According to him, the community has been in darkness for the past seven years and does not want to have a decade of darkness.

    “Socioeconomic activities have been paralysed in Ibafo Community as a result of continuous darkness.

    “Promises made by the management of IBEDC that electricity would be provided in the community in December 2016, failed.

    “The residents have made huge contributions in terms of purchase of electricity poles, transformers, electric cables and other accessories, to facilitate the connection of the community to the national grid.

    “We want well-meaning Nigerians to join us to appeal to IBEDC to connect the community to the national grid,” he said.
    Abolade said that the community was tired of unfulfilled promises from IBEDC.

    NAN reports that the Ibafo Community has been without electricity since 2010.
    Mr Felix Abiodun, Ogun Regional Technical Manager of IBEDC, confirmed the darkness in the community but promised that it would soon be connected to the national grid.

    He said that the Oke-Aro/Akute Substation had been certified by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), and that the procedure for handing over the station to IBEDC would soon start.

    According to him, once the station is handed over to IBEDC, the process of energising it will begin.
    Abiodun said that Ibafo and some neighbouring communities would be connected to the national grid afterwards.

    He regretted the continuous darkness but said that without certification and proper handover of the station, IBEDC would not energise it for electricity distribution.

  • Oyo Assembly summons IBEDC over irregular power supply

    Oyo Assembly summons IBEDC over irregular power supply

    Oyo State House of Assembly has directed the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to appear at the plenary sitting of the house on May 10 to explain reasons for epileptic power supply, rip-off of consumers and hoarding of prepaid meters.

    The summon follows a motion that was moved by Hon. Gbenga Oyekola and Hon Abdulwasi Mush at th plenary of the house on Tuesday.

    Oyekola noted that the nation has suffered numerous setbacks as a result of irregular power supply, which has led several manufacturing companies to closed up and relocate to other West African nations were electricity supply are stable and affordable.

    “In this state too, irregular power supply has caused thousands of manufacturing companIes to close down. The resultant loss of job has swelled the unemployment market.” he said

    Oyekola observed that whether by omission or outright commission, IBDEC has constituted itself as a pebble as in the shoes of socio-economic development of Oyo State on one hand and harbinge , frustration to both private and public power consumers in the state.

    He said:”The irregular power supply, billing for unused electricity, hoarding of prepaid meters to ensure status quo of fleecing the consumers with the IBEDC staffs has remain a cog in the wheel of progress in the state. They have constituted themselves as a devil in the economic situation of the state. They are also ripping off their consumers with high bills and illegal charges. It’s worrisome that irregular power supply is killing businesses.

    “They need to look inward in the area of power distribution, generation and ensure that their bills are acceptable to the consumers. They should also fast track the installation of prepaid meters for their teeming consumers in the state to avoid exorbitant charges on the other meters. ”

    In their seperate remarks, Hon Oyatokun Adeleke and Olusegun Ajanaku submitted that the IBEDC should be invited to the plenary of the house to explain reasons for lack-lustre performance and how it plan to improve its services.