Osun Youths Protest Power Outages, Seek Federal Intervention

Efforts are underway to secure both local and national assistance to address the worsening electricity crisis in Osun State. A community source disclosed that engagements have been initiated with relevant federal bodies to mobilise support, while commending Senator Lere Oyewumi for drawing the Senate’s attention to the incident.

In Osogbo, the state capital, dozens of youths staged a protest in March over crippling electricity shortages they said are pushing businesses to the brink of collapse. The demonstrators marched to the premises of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), lamenting that prolonged outages across the capital and neighbouring communities have left entrepreneurs counting daily losses.

Carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, the protesters said unreliable supply has forced many small-scale business owners to depend almost entirely on petrol and diesel generators, dramatically increasing operating costs in an already harsh economic climate.

One protester, who identified himself as Tunde, described the worsening financial strain. “We cannot continue to pay for darkness. Our businesses are collapsing and households are frustrated,” he said.

Another demonstrator explained that the rising cost of fuel has made it nearly impossible for many small enterprises to stay afloat. “Fuel prices are high, and we spend more running generators than we earn daily. We need stable electricity to survive,” she stated.

The protesters also noted that despite enduring extended blackouts, consumers continue to receive estimated and prepaid bills, a situation they described as adding insult to injury. They called on IBEDC management to provide a clear explanation for the persistent outages and to announce a definite timeline for improved power supply.

Security personnel were stationed at the company’s premises to prevent any breakdown of law and order, while IBEDC officials held discussions with representatives of the protesters.

In an earlier statement, IBEDC attributed the development to reduced energy allocations in the Osun region. The company listed affected areas including Iwo, Okinni, Ede Township, Ejigbo, Ikirun, Iragbiji, Ipetu-Ijesa, and several others.

“We sincerely regret the inconvenience this situation may cause,” the statement read. “We are actively engaging with relevant industry stakeholders to facilitate enhanced energy allocation as soon as supply conditions, particularly gas availability to generation companies, improve.”